STUDIES IN 
THE LIFE OF ST. PAUL 



tTHUR GORDNER LEACOCK 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



DDD175Db74E 




Book J-A 

Copyright 'N?. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



THE LIFE OF ST. PAUL 



Studies in the Life of 
St. Paul 



BY 

ARTHUR GORDNER LEACOCK 



" But the Lord said . . . . he is a chosen vessel unto me, to 
bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children 
of Israel.' ' — Acts ix, 15 



NEW YORK 

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF 

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS 

1906 



• 



.J* 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

NOV 8 1906 

Copyright Entry 
ISS J\ XXc.No, 
COPY B* " 



Copyright, 1906, by 

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF 

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS 



C 






3 

^ 



7* My 
FATHER AND MOTHER 



CONTENTS 



Chronological Outline 
Directions and Suggestions 



page 
xi 



Introduction 
study 
I The World in St. Paul's Time 



PART I 

The World and the Man 



II 



The Birth and Education of St. Paul 



3 
10 



PART II 
The Beginnings of the Christian Church 



III The Christian Church 

IV The Christian Church 

V The Christian Church 



The Descent of the Holy Spirit 19 
First Miracles and First Trials 26 
The First Martyr . 33 



PART III 
Paul the Persecutor Converted 

VI Paul Persecutes the Church : The Church Spreads 

beyond Judea 43 

VII The Conversion of Paul ■, 5° 

VIII The Gospel is Extended to the Gentiles K . b 57 



viii Contents 



PART IV 
Paul's First Missionary Journey 

STUDY PAGE 

IX Missions in Cyprus, Perga, and Pisiciian Antioch . . 67 

X Missions in Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra: The Return 

to Antioch in Syria 74 

XI A Crisis: Must Gentile Christians Keep the Mosaic 

Law? 81 



PART V 

Paul's Second Missionary Journey 

XII From Antioch to Philippi - 91 

XIII From Philippi to Athens ... . . „ 98 

XIV From Athens to Antioch , 105 

PART VI 
Paul's Third Missionary Journey 

XV From Antioch to Ephesus . . . . . * 115 

XVI From Ephesus to Corinth 122 

XVII Paul's Last Journey to Jerusalem 129 

PART VII 
Paul's Arrest at Jerusalem and Voyage to Rome 

XVIII Paul's Arrest at Jerusalem » 139 

XIX Paul Appears before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa: He 

Appeals to Caesar 146 

XX Paul is Sent to Rome: His Voyage and Shipwreck . 153 



Contents 



PART VIII 

Paul's Imprisonment and Death at Rome 
study page 

XXI Two Years in Prison at Rome 163 

XXII Paul's Last Travels, Second Imprisonment, and Death 170 

PART IX 
The Personality and Service of St. Paul 

XXIII Personal Characteristics of St. Paul .... 179 

XXIV Paul's Services to the World 186 



Chronological Outline 

Note: The chronology of Paul's life is extremely difficult and 
uncertain. The dates given in this outline are substantially those 
found in Conybeare and Howson's Life and Epistles of St. Paid. 



A. D. 

3 



Birth of St. Paul at Tarsus in Cilicia. 
16-26 Paul studies with Gamaliel at Jerusalem-. 
26 Returns to Tarsus. 

27-30 Public ministry of Jesus. 

30-35 Growth of the Christian Church ; the Day of Pentecost ; First 
Miracles and First Trials. 

35 Paul comes to Jerusalem; the martyrdom of Stephen. 
35-36 Paul persecutes the Church. 

36 Conversion of Paul. 

36-38 Paul goes from Damascus into Arabia for retirement (three 

years, Judaically reckoned). 
38 Paul flees from Damascus to Jerusalem, and thence to Tarsus. 

38-43 Paul at Tarsus. 

44 Barnabas brings Paul to Antioch to labor among the Gentile 

converts. 

45 Paul and Barnabas visit Jerusalem to carry relief to the 

Christians in time of famine. 

46-47 Paul at Antioch. 

48-49 First Missionary Journey : Paul and Barnabas visit Cyprus, 
Perga, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, 
then return to Antioch in Syria. 

50 Paul and Barnabas attend the "Council of Jerusalem," to con- 

sider the relation of Gentile converts to the Law of Moses. 

51-54 Second Missionary Journey: Paul starts from Antioch, and 
visits Cilicia, Galatia. and Troas in Asia Minor. Crossing 
into Europe, he goes to Philippi. Thessalonica, Bercea, Ath- 
ens and Corinth. At Corinth Paul writes First Thessaloni- 
ans (52 a.d. ?) and Second Thessalonians (53 a.d. ?). Leav- 
ing Corinth, Paul goes by way of Jerusalem to Antioch, 
where he writes the Epistle to the Galatians. 



Chronological Outline 



54-58 Third Missionary Journey: Paul leaves Antioch and goes 
to Ephesus, where he remains three years. Paul writes 
First Corinthians (57 a.d. ?) and then goes into Macedonia. 
In Macedonia he writes Second Corinthians, and journeys 
on to Corinth, where he writes Romans (58 a.d.?). Leav- 
ing Corinth, he goes by way of Philippi and Miletus to 
Jerusalem, where he is arrested and sent to Csesarea. 

58-59 Paul in prison in Csesarea. Has hearings before Felix, Fes- 
tus, and Agrippa; he appeals to Caesar. 

60 Festus sends Paul to Rome; Paul is shipwrecked at Malta. 

61-63 Paul arrives at Rome. While in prison he writes Philippians, 
Colossians, Philemon, and Ephesians. 

63 Paul is released from prison. 

63-65 Paul visits Macedonia, Asia Minor, Crete, and possibly Spain. 
He writes First Timothy and Titus. 

65 Arrest of Paul, probably at Nicopolis ; is taken to Rome and 

imprisoned ; he writes Second Timothy. 

65 Paul is beheaded by Nero. 



Directions and Suggestions 

1. These Studies in the Life of St. Paul consist of daily lessons, 
covering a period of twenty-four weeks, a page for each day. 

2. Be regular and systematic in your study. Do one lesson each 
day. Do not fall behind, and then try to cover several lessons at 
one sitting. 

3. Set aside the best ten or fifteen minutes of each day for your 
study, choosing a time when your mind will be fresh, and when you 
will not be interrupted. 

4. Always begin and close with prayer. Ask that you may have 
eyes to see, a heart to heed, and a will to obey the Truth. 

5. Keep a note-book. In the earlier lessons frequent note-book 
directions are inserted. Later they are gradually dropped. Form 
the habit of recording all impressions and questions that come to 
your mind. 

6. The data for the life of St. Paul are derived from two sources : 
Luke in the Acts of the Apostles gives the leading events in the 
outer life of Paul; the inner life must be sought in the Epistles of 
St. Paul. 

7. Because the life of Paul must be pieced together from Acts 
and from the Epistles, it is not always easy to follow or to remem- 
ber the narrative. Whenever you lose your grasp upon the order of 
events, turn back and reread the introductory paragraphs of the les- 
sons last studied. The introductory paragraphs of the several lessons, 
when read consecutively, form a continuous narrative. Refer also, 
when necessary, to the chronological outline, page ix. 

8. Loosely inserted in this book is an outline map of the Pauline 
world. This map you are to use, beginning with Study VI, marking 
upon it with red ink or pencil the places in which the gospel is 
preached by the apostles. 

9. All important variations between the Authorized Version 
(A.V.) and the Revised Version (R.V.) are noted in these Studies. 
You should have a copy of the Revised New Testament, preferably 
the American revision. 

10. Three books on the life and writings of St. Paul are especially 
useful : Conybeare and Howson's Life and Epistles of St. Paul, New 
York, is the monumental work on Paul. It is particularly valuable 
for its descriptions of the countries and cities visited by Paul — their 

xiii 



xiv Directions and Suggestions 

manners and customs, religious antiquities, government, etc. ; it con- 
tains also an original translation of the speeches and letters of the 
Apostle. Canon Farrar's Life and Work of St. Paul is rich, imag- 
inative, and rhetorical ; it is valuable chiefly for its vivid presentation 
of important scenes in the life of Paul, and for its clear analysis of 
his writings. The Rev. James Stalker's Life of St. Paul is an inex- 
pensive little manual that should be in the hands of every student 
of Paul ; it is brief, clear, and concise ; it traces the growth of Paul's 
gospel, and reveals the mind and heart of the great Apostle to the 
Gentiles. 



PART I 

Introduction : The World and the Man 

Study I. — The World in St. Paul's Time 
Study II. — The Birth and Education of St. Paul 



I:i Studies in the Life of St. Paul 3 

Study L— C&e ^orlti in §bU pattl's Cime 
First Day : The Three World-Nations 

In the time of St. Paul (3-65 a.d.) there were three nations of 
world-wide influence — the Romans, the Greeks, and the Jews. The 
Romans ruled the world : throughout the length and breadth of the 
Roman Empire their power was felt and feared; the Greeks led the 
world in intellectual matters, such as language, literature, science, 
and art : Greek at this time was well-nigh a universal language ; 
the Jews were distinguished for religion : they worshipped the one 
true God, and had the sacred books of the Old Testament; scat- 
tered throughout all lands, they established synagogues, and carried 
on everywhere the worship of Jehovah. 

In view of the spread and influence of these three nations, St. Paul 
had ideal qualifications as a world-missionary: he was a Roman 
citizen; he spoke and wrote Greek; and he was by birth a Jew of 
purest Hebrew stock. 

1. Write in your note-book the names of the three world-nations 

of St. Paul's time, and state in your own words the part each 
was playing in the life of the age. 

2. What was St. Paul's relation to each of these world-nations? 

3. Copy in your note-book John 19, verses 19 and 20. 

4. Why was the inscription on the cross written in Hebrew, Latin, 

and Greek? 
Prayer: "Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with Thy most 
gracious favor, and further us with Thy continual help, that in all 
cur works, begun, continued, and ended in Thee, we may glorify 
Thy holy Name, and finally, by Thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; 
through Christ our Lord." Amen. 



4 Studies in the Life of St. Paul i :2 

Study L— €\)t WoxlH in ftt JJaul'ei Gume 
Second Day: The Romans 

In the time of St. Paul the Romans ruled the world. All of the 
countries bordering on the Mediterranean, and many other coun- 
tries inland, were included in the Roman Empire. Spain, Gaul (now 
France), Italy, Macedonia and Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, 
Egypt, and the parts of Africa west of Egypt were the most im- 
portant portions of the Empire. 

The Romans were great organizers and great builders; they had 
peculiar skill in governing both themselves and other peoples ; they 
extended their laws and political institutions among the various 
nations which they conquered ; they built excellent roads to connect 
all parts of their vast Empire. Wherever a Roman citizen went 
throughout the Roman world, he was entitled to the fullest possible 
protection. In particular three privileges of the Roman citizen 
deserve attention : 
i. The right of trial by Roman courts. 

2. Freedom from scourging, crucifixion, and other degrading pun- 

ishments. 

3. The right of appeal to the Roman Emperor. 

St. Paul was a Roman citizen. In Acts 22:28 he says proudly 
that he is a Roman citizen by birth. This indicates that Paul's 
father, though a Jew, was likewise a Roman citizen. How Paul's 
father obtained his Roman citizenship is not known. Possibly he 
had rendered some important service to the government, in return 
for which he was made a citizen. 

1. Read Acts 22:22-29. Roman citizenship might be obtained in 

several ways. What two ways are mentioned in the passage 
just read? 

2. Why was the chief captain afraid? 

Thought for to-day: The Roman Empire helped the spread of 
Christianity: all the nations of the earth were under one rule; the 
great military roads were useful to the Christian missionaries in 
their travels from country to country; Roman citizenship protected 
certain of the early Christian preachers. As you study history, try 
to see the hand of God ordering and arranging all things. 



1:3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 5 

Study I. — C|)e Wovlti tit §>t. flattl's ftitne 

Third Day : . The Greeks 

In the time of St. Paul the Greeks led the world in all intel- 
lectual matters. They had an exquisite language, capable of ex- 
pressing the most delicate shades of meaning. Before 350 B.C. the 
Greeks had produced a rich and extensive literature, had made 
profound investigations in philosophy, had laid the foundations of 
the sciences, and had produced matchless works of art. 

After 350 B.C. Alexander the Great conquered the greater part of 
the known world. He planted Greek cities throughout his Empire 
and spread the Greek language and civilization over the lands of 
the Mediterranean. After the death of Alexander in 323 B.C., his 
successors continued his policy of making the world a Greek world. 
So thoroughly was this work done that long after the Empire of 
Alexander had passed into the hands of the Romans it kept its 
Greek character. 

In St. Paul's time Greek was well-nigh a universal language. It 
was spoken in Northern Africa and Egypt, in Palestine, Syria, Asia 
Minor, Macedonia and Greece. In Rome it was read and spoken 
by educated Romans and by thousands of foreigners and slaves. 
In Southern Gaul and even in Spain there were cities in which Greek 
was spoken. In Palestine the Jews spoke Aramaic, a language 
closely related to Hebrew, yet Greek was understood generally 
throughout the land; most of the Jews living outside of Palestine 
spoke Greek. As early as 250 B.C. the Hebrew Old Testament was 
translated into Greek, and this Greek version, called the Septuagint 
(because made by seventy rabbis), soon became the popular Bible 
of Greek-speaking Jews. 

1. What was the leading characteristic of the Greeks? See 1 Cor. 

1:22 (latter part of the verse) and Acts 17:21. 

2. St. Paul spoke Greek. All of his writings are in Greek. 

3. The entire New Testament was written in Greek by nine different 

men, most, if not all, of whom were Jews. Why did they use 

Greek instead of Aramaic? 
Prayer : "Lord, take my lips and speak through them ; take my 
mind and think through it; take my heart and set it on fire." 
Amen. 



6 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 1:4 

Study I.— &i)e ^orft in ftl fattl's Cttne 
Fourth Day: The Jews 

The third nation of world-wide extent was the Jewish nation. 
Strabo, a geographer of the time of Christ, says "it is hard to find 
a place in the habitable earth that hath not admitted this tribe of 
men, and is not possessed by it." Jews were to be found every- 
where throughout the Roman Empire. This wide dispersion of the 
Jews was due to several causes. The armies of Assyria, Babylonia, 
Syria, Egypt, and Rome, had invaded Palestine and had carried 
off thousands of Jews ; thousands of Jews also had gone into foreign 
lands to engage in trade and commerce. 

The Jews were noted for religion ; they worshipped the one true 
God, and they had the sacred books of the Old Testament which 
contained a record of God's dealing with man from the creation 
of the world. Wherever the Jews went, they carried their sacred 
books with them and established synagogues. 

The Jews of the Dispersion — that is, those living in foreign lands — 
were more liberal than those living in Palestine. They had been 
broadened by contact with the cultivated Greek world. Hebrew, 
the language of the Old Testament, was a dead language at this 
time. The Jews of Palestine spoke Aramaic, a dialect related to 
Hebrew, though very many of them also understood Greek. On 
the other hand, the Jews of the Dispersion spoke Greek, and used 
the Septuagint or Greek version of the Old Testament. The Jews 
of the Dispersion, therefore, were specially qualified to teach the 
religion of the Old Testament to the Gentile world. 

1. Read Acts 2:5-11. From these verses make a list of the countries 

inhabited by Jews, and notice that this list includes the most 
important parts of the Roman Empire. 

2. Read Acts 15:21. What evidence does this verse furnish? 
Thought for to-day: The dispersion of the Jews prepared the 

way for the Christian Church. The simple religious rites of the 
Jews attracted to the synagogues many Gentiles who were not sat- 
isfied with the idolatrous ceremonies of the pagan temples. The 
Greek version of the Old Testament could be read by Greeks and 
by cultivated Romans. The early Christian missionaries were Jews, 
and as they traveled on their preaching tours they went first to 
the synagogues of their brethren, the Jews. They were thus able 
to reach not only Jews, but also such Gentiles as were favorably 
disposed toward the worship of God. 



I : $ Studies in the Life of St. Paul 7 

Study I.— (Me WoxVQ in $t. Raul's Ctme 
Fifth Day: The Jews (Continued) 

The Jews, as was learned from the lesson of yesterday, were scat- 
tered all over the world. Their chief characteristic was religion. 
The subject of to-day's lesson, therefore, will be a brief study of the 
religious history of the Jews. 

The world, soon after creation, became wicked. God therefore 
determined to train up a people in morals and religion. For this 
end He chose Abraham, and promised him that his children should 
become a mighty nation. To Abraham and his children God re- 
vealed Himself in a peculiarly intimate manner. The descendants 
of Abraham became in time the great Jewish nation. Moses, under 
the inspiration of God, gave them laws both for their civil and for 
their religious life. 

The Jewish nation occupied Palestine. They were proud of the 
favor shown them as the chosen people of God, and were filled with 
contempt for their heathen neighbors. Nevertheless, they were not 
faithful to God. They were warned by the prophets and were pun- 
ished by attacks of foreign armies. Finally, in 722 B.C., ten tribes 
were carried off by the Assyrians and disappeared from history. 
About one hundred and twenty-five years later the remaining tribes 
were carried away by the Babylonians. In 536 B.C. Cyrus the Great 
allowed them to return to Palestine. 

After their return from captivity the Jews became more narrow 
and exclusive than they had been before. In the days of Jesus the 
religious life of the nation was at a low ebb. In the eyes of a Jew 
the all-important thing was to keep the Law of Moses and the oral 
law based upon it. Jesus sharply rebuked the religious leaders of 
the Jews, the scribes and Pharisees, for neglecting works of mercy 
and justice, and for devoting themselves to idle discussion and to 
the observance of petty and childish rules. 

1. Read Jesus' denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees, Matt. 

23:13-33. 

2. Are there any men to-day who show the spirit of the scribes and 

Pharisees? 



8 Studies in the Life of St. Paul i : 6 

Study L— CJe ^orlti in St JJattl'e; QTime 

Sixth Day : The Morals of the Ancient World 

Although the Romans were the political rulers of the world, and 
the Greeks were the leaders of the world in intellectual culture, and 
although the Jews were the guardians of the worship of Jehovah, 
yet each of these world peoples was marred by incredible defects or 
weakened by vice and crime. 

The Romans were avaricious and cruel. They delighted in coarse 
pleasures, such as wild-beast fights and the combats of gladiators. 
In early times the Romans lived simply and frugally, but with the 
growth of the Empire and the increase of wealth, they gave them- 
selves up to luxury, dissipation, and sensuality. 

The Greeks had sought their highest good in the study of philoso- 
phy; they tried by means of logical proof to establish the doctrine 
of the immortality of the soul ; they sought also by their studies in 
philosophy to work out a system of rules to govern moral conduct. 
Yet these efforts, for the most part, were unsuccessful. Many philo- 
sophical sects arose, and sober discussion degenerated into senseless 
wrangling over words and phrases. Meanwhile the moral character 
of the people as a whole deteriorated. The Greeks were too often 
fickle and licentious, and many times they misapplied their intel- 
lectual arts to make vice attractive. 

The Jews were proud and exclusive; they cared more for the 
observance of the Mosaic law than for mercy and justice. They, 
too, like the Greeks and the Romans, were often guilty of vice and 
crime. 

St. Paul, in one of his letters, gives an awful picture of the wick- 
edness of his time: 
i. The wickedness of the Greek and Roman world. Romans 1 128-32. 

2. The wickedness of the Jews. Romans 2:17-24. 

3. Read Paul's catalogue of evils in Galatians 5:19-21. 

Prayer: ''We pray Thee to compassionate our weakness, O Lord, 
to guard us in peril, to direct us in doubt, and to save us from falling 
into sin. From the evil that is around and within us, graciously 
deliver us. Make the path of duty plain before us, and keep us in 
it even unto the end." Amen* 



1:7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul g 

Study L— C&e WmV* in St flatti's Ctme 
Seventh Day: The Coming of Christianity 

The world was in need of a Saviour. Men were weary of their 
sins, and could find no permanent relief in philosophy or in the 
systems of morality that had been devised. Gradually the conviction 
arose that the thing most satisfactory to God was good conduct. 
Men felt, too, that they must have an ideal life to follow. 

The Jews were waiting for the coming of the Messiah. For cen- 
turies the Jewish prophets had foretold that the Messiah should be 
born in the city of David, and that he "should save his people 
from their sins." Also among the Gentiles at this time there was a 
widespread belief that a deliverer should appear who would free 
the world from its sin and wretchedness. 

Into this needy and expectant world Jesus Christ came. He was 
born in Bethlehem of Judea in 5 b.c. His public ministry occupied 
the years 27-30 a.d., but was confined almost wholly to Palestine. 
After His death, in 30 a.d., there was need that someone should 
publish His teachings to the world. At this juncture Paul came 
forward. Paul organized the scattered teachings of Jesus into a 
system of religious thought, and then preached Jesus and His 
plan of salvation throughout the civilized world. 

Review of the week's work : 

1. What were the three world-nations of St. Paul's time? 

2. What was the leading characteristic of each? 

3. How did each help in the spread of the Gospel ? 

4. What was the moral condition of the ancient world? 

5. When and where did Christianity arise? 

6. What was the relation of St. Paul's work to that of Jesus? 



io Studies in the Life of St. Paul ii:i 

Study II.— £&e ^Sirtf) auS education of St JJattl 

First Day: The Date of St. Paul's Birth 

The exact date of St. Paul's birth is not known. From two verses 
in the New Testament, however, it is possible to determine approxi- 
mately the year in which he was born. In the first of these two 
verses he is called "a young man" ; in the second he speaks of himself 
as "Paul the aged." These verses will be the subject of study to-day. 

PAUL THE YOUNG MAN 

I. Read Acts 7 158. 

1. Copy this verse in your note-book, substituting for the first 

"him" the word "Stephen." 

2. Stephen was stoned in 35 a.d. 

3. Therefore St. Paul (or Saul, as he is called here) was a young 

man in 35 a.d. 

4. The term "young man" is one whose limits are not clearly 

defined. In general it may be said that a young man is one 
whose age falls between twenty-one and thirty-five. 

PAUL THE AGED 

II. Read Philemon, verse 9. 

1. Copy this verse in your note-book. 

2. The Epistle to Philemon was written in 63 a.d. 

3. Therefore St. Paul was an "aged" or old man in 63 a.d. 

4. The term "aged" is also one of considerable latitude. Some 

men grow old prematurely and may be regarded as old men 
before their fiftieth year. Others may not seem old until 
after their seventieth year. 
The date of St. Paul's birth must be so fixed that he may be 
regarded as a young man in 35 a.d., and as an aged man in 63 a.d. 
The year 3 a.d. has been chosen as a date which meets these require- 
ments. If St. Paul was born in 3 a.d., he was thirty-two years old 
in 35 a.d. and sixty years old in 63 a.d. This date is also rendered 
highly probable by reasons which are stated in certain lessons which 
follow. 

Prayer : "O Lord, give me the grace of Thy Spirit, early to seek 
out, and evermore earnestly to follow the work which Thou hast 
appointed for me to do." Amen. 



11:2 Studies in the Life of St. Paul n 

Study II.— €&e 35itt|) an* (BHucation. of St flaui 
Second Day: St. Paul's Birthplace 

St. Paul himself twice gives in the New Testament the name of 
his native city, 
i. Read Acts 22:3. 

2. Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, was situated on the Cydnus River. 

twelve miles from the sea. It was a free city, and possessed 
certain important rights and privileges ; it was also a great 
center of education, ranking along with Athens and Alexandria. 
Strabo says that the men of Tarsus were so zealous in the study 
of philosophy that they surpassed all other men in the study 
of that subject. Though the city had been Hellenized under 
the successors of Alexander, yet it was, after all, a place in 
which the Greek and the Oriental worlds met and blended; it 
was a Roman city after 94 B.C., yet its inhabitants were free — 
that is, largely self-governing; the men of Tarsus did not 
possess Roman citizenship except by special grant. Large num- 
bers of Jews were to be found in the city, attracted thither 
by the many opportunities for trade and commerce. 

3. Read Acts 21 139. Why does Paul in this verse say that he is a 

citizen "of no mean city." 

4. How were each of the three world-nations represented in Tarsus ? 

5. St. Paul was the first great missionary to the Greek and Roman 

world. How did the influences of Tarsus fit him specially 
for this work? 

St. Paul was a city-bred man. Most of his work was done in 
large towns and cities. Jerusalem, Damascus, Antioch, Tarsus, 
Ephesus, Thessalonica, Corinth, and Rome were the centers of his 
greatest activity. 

"The words of Jesus are redolent of the country and teem with 
pictures of still beauty or homely toil — the lilies of the field, the 
sheep following the shepherd, the sower in the furrow, the fishermen 
drawing their nets. But the language of Paul is impregnated with 
the atmosphere of the city and alive with the tramp and hurry of 
the streets. His imagery is borrowed from scenes of human energy 
and monuments of cultivated life — the soldier in full armor, the 
athlete in the arena, the building of houses and temples, the tri- 
umphal procession of the victorious general." — Stalker. 



12 Studies in the Life of St. Paul n : ^ 

Study II.— Cjje iStrtl) anH education of B>t $attl 

Third Day: St. Paul's Parents 

The names of St. Paul's parents are not known. He was born, 
however, in a typical Jewish home of the better sort, and was trained 
in all the traditions held sacred by pious Hebrew parents. St. Paul 
more than once boasts of his pure Jewish blood, 
i. St. Paul's pure Jewish blood: 2 Cor. 11:22. 

2. His tribe : Philippians 3 :5. 

3. His father was a Roman citizen. Acts 22:27 and 28. 

4. In Galatians 1 :i5 Paul alludes, though only incidentally, to his 

mother. 

5. Paul had a married sister living in Jerusalem. Acts 23:16. 

6. In Romans 16, verses 7, 11, and 21, Paul sends greeting to certain 

men whom he designates as "kinsmen." These men may have 

been either distant relatives or else members of his own tribe, 

the tribe of Benjamin. 

Paul's Two Names : Owing to contact with the Greek and 

Roman world many Jews assumed, in addition to their Hebrew 

names, a Greek or a Roman name. For example, the Aramaic 

Hebrew name of Peter was Cephas (rock) ; the name Peter is Greek 

(Petros), and also means rock. Peter earlier bore the Hebrew 

name Symeon, while his corresponding Greek name, adopted from 

similarity of sound, was Simon. In the book of Acts, Paul is called 

Saul until Chapter 13:9; after that point the name Paul is used 

exclusively. The name Saul is a Hebrew word, meaning "asked 

of God"; the name Paul is Roman (Paulus), and means "little." 



11:4 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 13 

Study II.— Cf)e 33itt() airtr €mtcattoa of St. fllatti 
Fourth Day: Home Life and Training 

Jewish children were carefully trained in the history and traditions 
of their nation. They learned the laws of Moses, and were taught 
the story of God's constant and loving care for the Jewish people. 

1. Moses himself laid down rules for the education of children. Read 

Deuteronomy 6 :4-9. 

2. This teaching is re-echoed in the Psalms. See Ps. 78:5-7. 

3. Much of this instruction was given by the Jewish mother. From 

2 Timothy 3:15 and 1:5 try to picture to yourself the home of 
the youthful Timothy. Timothy's father, however, was a Greek, 
while Paul's father was a Jew. Otherwise their homes were 
similar. 

4. Paul's father was a Pharisee. See Acts 23 :6. What were the 

beliefs and practices of the Pharisees? 

5. As Paul at his mother's knee heard the Old Testament stories 

of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of David and the prophets, his 

heart must have been fired with love for the chosen people 

and with zeal for the worship of Jehovah. He would also have 

a feeling of pity, if not of contempt, for his Gentile playmates 

in the city of Tarsus. 

Two languages were probably spoken in St. Paul's home — Aramaic 

and Greek. Persons so intensely Hebrew as Paul's parents would 

be likely to speak Aramaic Hebrew in the seclusion of the family 

circle. At the same time Paul seems to have been familiar with 

Greek from his boyhood. The style of his speeches and letters is 

not that of a man who had learned Greek late in life. Greek was 

the language of Tarsus. Even if Paul did not hear it at home, he 

would naturally learn it from his playmates in the city. 

Lesson Thought: Paul's training at home was a careful study 
of the Old Testament scriptures. What does Paul himself say of 
the value of Bible study? Read Second Timothy 3 :i6 and 17. 



14 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 11:5 

Study II.— W$t 38irt!) an* e&tuation of §bt f attl 

Fifth Day: School Life. Learns a Trade 

Concerning Paul's school-days in Tarsus nothing is said in the 
New Testament either by Luke in the book of Acts or by Paul him- 
self in his own Epistles. It is likely, however, that he attended some 
school in Tarsus, probably a synagogue school, where he learned 
to read and write Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament. 

It is known that Paul learned a trade. All Jewish boys at this 
time learned trades. One of the older Rabbis said, "He that teacheth 
not his son a trade does the same as if he taught him to be a thief." 
Another Rabbi said, "He that hath a trade in his hand, to what is 
he like? He is like a vineyard that is fenced." 

1. What was St. Paul's trade? See Acts 18:3. 

2. At Tarsus a rough cloth called cilicium was manufactured from 

goat's hair. From this tents were made. Possibly Paul's father 
was a dealer in such tents. 

3. While laboring as a missionary, Paul worked at his trade so as 

not to be dependent on his converts for support : 

(a) At Thessalonica : 1 Thess. 2:9. 

(b) At Corinth: Acts 18:3. 

(c) At Ephesus: Acts 20:34. 

Thought for To-day: "We commanded you that if any would 
not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some 
which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy- 
bodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our 
Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they work and eat their own 
bread." St. Paul, Second Thessalonians 3:10-12. By precept and 
by example Paul stood for the dignity of labor. Are you ashamed 
to work, and do you long for a life of ease, or do you intend to labor 
and do your part of the world's work? Are you willing also, like 
Paul, to make your life a life of service for others? 



11:6 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 15 

Study II.— ©Je $irtf) an* education of §bt Paul 
Sixth Day: Paul Studies at Jerusalem 

A Jewish boy who was to become a Rabbi usually began to study 
under a Rabbi, or "doctor of the law," at the age of thirteen. So it 
may be assumed that Paul went to Jerusalem at that age. 

1. In what year did Paul go to Jerusalem to study in a Rabbinical 

school ? 

2. What was the name of Paul's teacher? Acts 22:3. 

3. For a glimpse of Gamaliel, see Acts 5 :34-4°- 

4. Jewish teachers had a high seat, while their pupils sat on the floor 

below them. Does Paul anywhere allude to this custom in any 
passage that you have read? 

5. Paul was probably at Jerusalem under Gamaliel for at least ten 

years. 

6. What was Paul taught at Jerusalem? Acts 22:3. 

The chief subject of instruction in the Rabbinical schools was the 
Mosaic law and its interpretation. The Mosaic law is contained in 
the first five books of the Old Testament. In the course of centuries 
there had grown up around the laws of Moses a mass of decisions 
and interpretations, called the oral law, which in compass exceeded 
the original laws on which they were based. Many of these rules 
were senseless and ridiculous. Jewish students memorized the law 
and its interpretation. In the schools they spent their time in asking 
questions, raising objections, and making fine distinctions. While 
the subjects under discussion were often unworthy, yet such training 
produced keenness of mind and readiness in debate. 

Thought for To-day : Paul was a Pharisee and the son of a 
Pharisee. He desired the approval of God, and sought to obtain that 
approval by scrupulously keeping the law of Moses. He tried to 
be righteous by rule. Are you trying to be righteous merely by 
obeying the rules of morality, or have you learned, as Paul was soon 
to learn, that righteousness — that is, being right with God — is ob- 
tained by faith in Him? 



16 Studies in the Life of St. Paul II 7 

Study IL— C&e 3Sttt|) an* education of ftt JJattl 

Seventh Day: Paul Returns to Tarsus 

It is not known exactly how long Paul studied at Jerusalem, nor 
when he returned to Tarsus. The public ministry of Jesus occupied 
the years 27 to 30 a.d. Inasmuch as Paul seems not to have seen 
or heard Jesus, it has been assumed that Paul left Jerusalem shortly 
before 27 a.d., and that he went to his native city, Tarsus. 

The course of events may be summarized as follows : Paul was 
born in 3 a.d. Until the age of thirteen he lived at Tarsus, learning 
to read and write Hebrew and Greek, and picking up the simple 
trade of tent-making. In 16 a.d. he went to Jerusalem, where he 
studied under Gamaliel for about ten years. In 26 a.d. he returned 
to Tarsus. 

For the next ten years Paul remained at Tarsus. What he was 
doing during this long sojourn can be only a matter of conjecture. 
He may have taught as a Rabbi in a synagogue school of the city; 
he may have worked at his trade ; he must surely have been influ- 
enced by the life and thought of the cultivated Greek city of Tarsus ; 
he may have attended lectures at the university, and may have taken 
part in the philosophical discussions that were carried on about him. 

Paul shows in his writings and speeches some familiarity with 
Greek literature, for he quotes from the Cretan poet Epimenides 
in Titus 1:12, from Aratus or Callimachus in Acts 17:28, and from 
Menander in 1 Corinthians 15 133. Read these passages, and enter 
them in your note-book. 

Thought for To-day : Paul's education in the schools was now 
complete. His training under Gamaliel at Jerusalem had prepared 
him for work among the Jews. His knowledge of Greek and his 
familiarity with Greek life and thought had fitted him for preaching 
among the Greeks. His Roman citizenship gave him a dignified 
position in the world, and afforded him protection as he moved 
about the Roman Empire. But Paul was still an exclusive 
Pharisee, and was still ignorant of God's plan that he 
should become a missionary to the despised Gentile nations. Have 
you ever thought that your plans for your own life may not be God's 
plans ? May not your greatest success and happiness come when you 
seek to know His will concerning you? 



PART II 

The Beginnings of the Christian Church 

Study III. — The Christian Church: The Descent of the Holy 

Spirit 
Study IV. — The Christian Church: First Miracles and First 

Trials 
Study V. — The Christian Church: The First Martyr 



ni:i Studies in the Life of St. Paul 19 

Study III.— C()e Christian C&ttrcJ) : &\)t descent of 
tlje 5>oIj> Spirit 

First Day: The Promise of the Holy Spirit 

As was stated in the last lesson, Paul probably left Jerusalem in 
26 a.d., and went back to Tarsus, where he remained for about ten 
years. He does not again appear in Jerusalem until shortly before 
the death of the martyr Stephen, in 35 a.d. 

While Paul was at Tarsus an event of the profoundest importance 
took place in Palestine. Jesus Christ went about the land preaching 
the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. His short but eventful public 
ministry occupied the years 27 to 30 a.d. Just before His ascension, 
in 30 a.d., Christ called together His disciples, and promised them 
that they should receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and should 
preach the Gospel to the whole world. 

The story of the spread of the Gospel and the growth of the 
Christian Church is told by Luke in the book of Acts. This narra- 
tive will now be the subject of study, inasmuch as when Paul next 
appears in sacred history he comes forward to engage in the perse- 
cution of the Christian Church — the church he was destined later 
to extend over the whole world. 

1. Read Acts 1 :i-5. 

2. What "former treatise" did the author of Acts write? 

3. How large was the Christian Church at the time of Christ's ascen- 

sion? For evidence on this point read 1 Corinthians 15:3-7. 

4. Do you suppose that the disciples understood what was meant 

by the "baptism of the Holy Spirit" (or Holy Ghost) ? 

5. Do you understand what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is? 
Prayer: "O God, forasmuch as our strength is in Thee, merci- 
fully grant that Thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule 
our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen. 



20 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 111:2 

Study III.— TOe Christian C^urcf) : Cfce descent of 
tl;e |)olp Spirit 
Second Day: The Promise of the Holy Spirit (Con- 
tinued) 

On the day of His ascension Christ again promised His disciples 
the gift of the Holy Spirit, telling them that they should receive 
power, and should be His witnesses "unto the uttermost part of the 
earth." After the ascension of Christ the disciples gathered together 
at Jerusalem and prayed for the promised gift. 

1. Read Acts I .-6-14. 

2. Judging from verse 6, what thought seems uppermost in the minds 

of the disciples? 

3. What two important statements are contained in verse 8? 

4. Notice the successive steps by which the apostles are to extend 

the Gospel throughout the world (verse 8, latter part). First 
they are to preach in Jerusalem, then in the surrounding district 
of Judea, next in the partly Jewish region of Samaria, and last 
of all in the Gentile world. This last stage, the extension of the 
Gospel among the Gentiles, was destined to be St. Paul's work. 

5. For what do you think the apostles and women were praying 

(verse 14) ? 

"Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, 

With all Thy quickening powers; 
Kindle a flame of sacred love 
In these cold hearts of ours. 

"See how we grovel here below, 
Fond of these earthly toys; 
Our souls, how heavily they go 
To reach eternal joys. 

"Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, 
With all Thy quickening powers ; 
Come, shed abroad a Saviour's love, 
And that shall kindle ours." 

— Isaac Watts, 



111:3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 21 

Study III.— €fc C&ttattan C&ttrcJ : C!)e ^Descent of 
t&e |)oIj> Spirit 

Third Day : The Election of an Apostle to Fill the 
Place of Judas 

While waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit the eleven 
apostles chose a successor to Judas Iscariot. 

1. Read Acts 1 .-15-26. 

2. In the Authorized Version, verse 18 is rendered, "Now this man 

purchased a field," etc., while the Revised Version renders it, 
"Now this man obtained a field," etc. Neither translation is 
correct. The Greek original means "this man caused a field 
to be bought." Judas, as narrated in Matt. 27:3-8, was stung 
with remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the 
chief priests and elders. They in turn got rid of the money 
by buying the potter's field. Judas was indirectly the cause of 
the purchase of the field. 

3. "Aceldama" (verse 19) is an Aramaic word. Luke is writing 

for Gentile readers, and therefore translates the word into 
Greek. 

4. Verify the two quotations from the Old Testament in verse 20. 

They are taken from Psalm 69 :25 and Psalm 109 :8, respectively. 

5. To be an apostle, what qualifications were necessary? See verses 

21 and 22. 

6. St. Paul did not see or hear Jesus during His ministry on earth. 

Therefore the enemies of Paul maintained that he was not a 
true apostle, inasmuch as he had not "companied" with the 
disciples while Jesus was with them. 
Prayer: "O Heavenly Father, the Author and Fountain of all 
truth, the bottomless Sea of all understanding, send, we beseech 
Thee, Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts and lighten our understand- 
ings with the beams of Thy heavenly grace. We ask this, O merciful 
Father, for Thy dear Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ's sake." Amen, 



22 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 111:4 

Study III.— W$z Christian Clmrc!) : QLfyz descent of 
t&e polp Spirit 
Fourth Day: The Day of Pentecost 

When the Jewish festival called the Pentecost had come, the 
disciples were all assembled together in one place. Suddenly the 
Holy Spirit descended upon them, and they began to speak with 
foreign tongues. 
i. Read Acts 2:1-13. 

2. The word "Pentecost" is a Greek word, meaning "fiftieth." The 

day of Pentecost was the fiftieth day after the Passover, and 
was the second great festival of the Jews. It was a harvest 
festival, and was celebrated at the close of the grain harvest 
about the first of May. 

3. How many days have elapsed since the ascension of Christ? 

4. What do you suppose were the thoughts of the disciples during 

the period between the Ascension and Pentecost? 

5. This gift of tongues (verses 4-8) was not of permanent duration. 

The disciples were not miraculously enabled to speak foreign 
languages throughout the rest of their lives. Inasmuch as 
Greek was already a world language, there was no need of a 
gift of tongues for missionary purposes. The gift of tongues 
was an extraordinary phenomenon, designed apparently to ar- 
rest the attention of Jews of all nations residing in Jerusalem. 

6. Observe from what far-away regions the Jews of verses 5-1 1 had 

come. It is possible that later many of them made known in 

their native cities the story of the wonderful scene they had 

witnessed at Jerusalem. 

Thought for To-day: "They were all with one accord in one 

place." The great blessings of Pentecost came upon the disciples 

when they were gathered together earnestly seeking in common 

the gift of the Holy Spirit. Read Matthew 18:19 and 20. 



111:5 Studies in the Life of St. Paid 23 

Study III.- C^e Christian Cljttrdj : C&e descent o£ 

t&e {)olp Spirit 

Fifth Day: Peter's Sermon at Pentecost 

As soon as the report of the descent of the Holy Spirit and the 
gift of tongues had spread through the city, a multitude gathered 
about the apostles. In order to account for the strange events of 
the day, Peter then preached a sermon to the throng. He explained 
to them that the coming of the Holy Spirit was the fulfilment of 
prophecy. He also charged them with having killed the Messiah. 

1. Read Peter's sermon, Acts 2:14-36, noting especially the character 

of his argument. 

2. The Old Testament prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah 

and the gift of the Holy Spirit. With these prophecies all Jews 
were familiar. The early Christian preachers, therefore, endeav- 
ored to convince the Jews that the life and death of Jesus ful- 
filled in every particular the prophecies of the Old Testament, 
and that consequently He was the promised Messiah. 

3. Observe the three forms of address used by Peter: (a) local, 

"Ye men of Judea," (b) national, "Ye men of Israel," and (c) 
personal, "Brethren." 

4. Explanatory notes and references : 

(a) Verse 15 : The third hour of the day was 9 a.m. 

(b) Verses 17-21 : This quotation is from Joel 2 :28-32, and is 

taken, not from the Hebrew Old Testament, but from the 
Septuagint. What was the Septuagint? 

(c) Verses 25-28: See Psalm 16:8-11. 

(d) Verse 34: See Psalm no, verse 1. 

5. In this, as in other speeches and sermons which are preserved in 

the book of Acts, Luke probably gives only an outline or sum- 
mary of what was said. 
Memory Verse: Memorize Acts 2:17. 



24 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 111:6 

Study III.— Clje Christian C|mtc& : C&e descent of 

t&e ^olp Spirit 

Sixth D'ay : The Conversion of Three Thousand Souls 

When Peter had finished his sermon, many of the men, deeply 
affected by the words they had heard, asked what they were to do. 
Peter bade them repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 
As a result of his sermon and personal exhortation, three thousand 
souls were converted. 

1. Read Acts 2:37-41. 

2. Why were Peter's hearers "pricked in their heart" (verse 37) ? 

3. In verse 39, to whom does Peter refer in the phrase "all that are 

afar off" ? Are they Jews or Gentiles ? 

4. Plow large was the Christian Church at the close of the day of 

Pentecost ? 

5. The conversion of three thousand souls at Jerusalem was the 

first step in the fulfilment of a promise made by Christ on the 
day of His ascension. What was the promise? 
Personal Thought: Peter in his sermon endeavored to show 
that Jesus was the Messiah. He closed with the words, "Let all the 
house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made Him both Lord 
and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified." At this the Jews were 
pricked in their hearts. Have you ever been pricked in the heart 
when thinking of God's goodness to you and of your failure to 
recognize Him as your Lord and Christ? 

Prayer: "O Lord, who hast mercy upon all, take away from 
me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of Thy Holy Spirit. 
Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, 
a heart to love and adore Thee, a heart to delight in Thee, to follow 
and to enjoy Thee, for Christ's sake," Amen, 



111:7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 25 

Study III.— (EJe Christian Clmrcl) : Clje Decent of 
t&e ()olj> Spirit 

Seventh Day : The First Converts and Their Life 

Luke, in a few brief sentences, gives a beautiful picture of the joy 
and gladness that pervaded the apostolic church. 

1. Read Acts 2:42-47. 

2. What is meant by "the apostles' teaching" (or doctrine) of 

verse 42? 

3. Verse 44 : The church at this time was a kind of socialistic com- 

munity. All things were held in common. St. Chrysostom 
(345-407 a.d.) calls it "an angelic republic." 

4. Verse 46 : The Jewish Christians, as may be seen from this verse, 

still kept up their worship at the temple. To the temple rites 
they added the simple Christian sacrament of the Lord's Supper, 
for to this rite the words "breaking bread" refer. 

5. Verse 47: "Favor with all the people," that is, with the common 

people. What was the attitude of the common people toward 
Jesus ? See Mark 12 137. The first opposition to the church 
came from the highest classes, the priests and Sadducees. 
"The life of these early Christians was the poetic childhood of 
the church in her earliest innocence. It was marked by simplicity, 
by gladness, by worship, by brotherhood. At home and in their 
place of meeting their lives were a perpetual prayer, their meals 
a perpetual love-feast and a perpetual eucharist. In the temple they 
attended the public services with unanimous zeal. In the first im- 
pulse of fraternal joy many sold their possessions to contribute to 
the common stock. The members of the little community increased 
daily, and the mass of the people looked on them not only with 
tolerance, but with admiration." — Canon Farrar. 



26 Studies in the Life of St. Paul iV:i 

Study IV.— ©Je Christian CI)tttc& : jFinst Jftiraciefl: 
anil jFirat Criate 

First Day : The First Miracle 

One day, when Peter and John went up to the temple at the hour 
of prayer, a beggar, who had been a cripple from birth, asked them 
for money. Immediately Peter healed the man of his infirmity, 
whereupon a crowd gathered in amazement about the two apostles. 

1. Read Acts 3:1-11. 

2. Notice that Peter and John, like the other early Christians, were 

still loyal to the temple services. See Acts 2 146. 

3. What time of day was the "ninth hour" (verse 2) ? See p. 23, 

4 (a). 

4. The "Beautiful Gate" of the temple was made of Corinthian 

bronze, and far surpassed in value those made of silver and 
gold. 

5. The Greek words in verse 7 which are translated "feet and ankle 

bones" are technical terms nowhere else used in the New Testa- 
ment. Is there any reason why Luke, the writer of Acts, should 
show an accurate and minute knowledge of the human body? 
See Colossians 4:14- 

6. What inference do you draw from verse 8 concerning the religious 

nature of the lame beggar? 

7. "Solomon's porch" (verse 11) was "a great arcade reaching 

along the whole east side of the temple." 

8. Read to-day's lesson again slowly, letting your imagination picture 

to you the scene of this miracle. 
Thought for To-day: The apostles, in healing the lame man, 
were doing Christ's work. "Have you ever noticed how much of 
Christ's life was spent in doing kind things — in merely doing kind 
things? Run over it with that in view, and you will find that He 
spent a great proportion of His time simply in making people happy, 
in doing good turns to people." — Henry Drummond. 



IV :2 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 27 

Study IV.— C&e Christian C&ttrcj) : first pLixztlzs 
anU first ©rials; 

Second Day : Peter's Address in Solomon's Porch 

When the crowd had gathered in Solomon's Porch, Peter delivered 
to them an address. His theme is "Jesus the Messiah." Peter tells 
his hearers that faith in Jesus has healed the lame man. 

1. Read Acts 3:12-26. 

2. What points of resemblance do you find between this address 

and that delivered by Peter on the day of Pentecost? 

3. Did Peter in his address at Pentecost say anything about faith? 

Does he say anything about faith in this address? Is any devel- 
opment of Christian doctrine noticeable? 

4. What do you suppose the feelings of the Jews were as they list- 

ened to Peter? 

5. Were any converted as a result of this address? See Acts 4:4. 
Thought for the Day: "Souls are made sweet not by taking 

the acid fluids out, but by putting something in — a great love, a 
new Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. Christ, the Spirit of Christ, inter- 
penetrating ours, sweetens, purifies, transforms all. This only can 
eradicate what is wrong, work a chemical change, renovate and 
regenerate, and rehabilitate the inner man. Will-power does not 
change men. Time does not change men. Christ does. Therefore, 
'Let that mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus.' " — Henry 
Drummond. 



28 Studies in the Life of St. Paul IV:3 

Study IV.— &&e e&tiatian Cljurcfe : jFitat Jftiracfoa 

atiDi first Ctiate 

Third Day: The First Arrest of the Apostles 

The priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees were 
grieved because the apostles taught the people the doctrine of the 
resurrection of Jesus. They therefore seized Peter and John, and 
put them in prison. 

i. Read Acts 4:1-4. 

2. The "captain of the temple" (verse 1) was not a military officer. 

He had charge, however, of the guard of priests and Levites 
who watched the temple at night. 

3. What two reasons had the priests and Sadducees to interfere with 

the teaching of the apostles? Verse 2. 

4. What was the peculiar religious belief of the Sadducees? See 

Matthew 22:23. 

5. Up to this time no opposition had been offered to growth of the 

Christian body. There was room in the Jewish Church for 
many sects, such as the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the 
Essenes. 

6. The priests and the Sadducees formed the Jewish aristocracy. 

They caused the death of Jesus through fear that His growing 
power and influence would lead to the end of their own privi- 
leges. They now oppose the apostles because they are alarmed 
at the favor shown the apostles by the common people. 

7. How much has the Church grown since the day of Pentecost? 

See verse 4. 
Prayer: "O God, perfect us in love, that we may conquer all sel- 
fishness and hatred of others ; fill our hearts with Thy joy, and shed 
abroad in them Thy peace which passeth understanding; that so 
those murmurings and disputings to which we are too prone may be 
overcome. Make us long-suffering and gentle, and thus subdue 
our hastiness and angry tempers, and grant that we may bring forth 
the blessed fruits of the Spirit, to Thy praise and glory, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen, 



IV :4 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 29 

Study IV.— &be Christian C&tttcl) : Jurat Piracies 

an* jFitfiit Crtate 

Fourth Day: Thr Apostt.rs arr RRnTTnwT Rp.T7n.pir tpo 



IV :4 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 29 

Study IV.— We Christian Clmrcl) : jFtrfit fflUxztlzn 
anU JFtrst Crtate 

Fourth Day : The Apostles are Brought Before the 
Sanhedrin 

On the day after their arrest, Peter and John were brought before 
the Sanhedrin, or Jewish Council. When asked by what authority 
they had done these things, the apostles replied that they had 
taught and healed in the name of the Lord Jesus. The authorities 
marveled at their boldness of speech, and after solemnly warning 
them let them go. 

1. Read Acts 4:5-22. 

2. The Sanhedrin, before which the apostles were brought for trial, 

was a Jewish judicial body which sat chiefly to deliberate upon 
matters pertaining to religion. It consisted of seventy-one mem- 
bers. 

3. What three orders composing the Sanhedrin are mentioned in 

verses 5 and 6? Note that the term "rulers" of verse 5 includes 
both priests and Sadducces. Many of the priests were Sad- 
ducees. (See Acts 5:17.) 

4. What promise of aid in such a crisis as this did Jesus make to 

His disciples? Mark 13:11. 

5. A great change has come over the disciples. They are no longer 

timid and vacillating, as they had been in the days of Jesus, 

but are strong and courageous. How do you account for this 

change? 

Personal Thought: "They took knowledge of them that they 

had been with Jesus." Is my own speech, bearing and conduct such 

that others take knowledge of me that I have been with Jesus? Do 

I earnestly seek that power which made the disciples so effective? 

Prayer : "I need Thee to teach me day by day, according to each 

day's opportunities and needs. Give me, O my Lord, that purity 

of conscience which alone can receive, which alone can improve Thy 

inspirations. My ears are dull so that I cannot hear Thy voice. My 

eyes are dim so that I cannot see Thy tokens. Thou alone canst 

quicken my hearing, and purge my sight, and cleanse and renew 

my heart. Teach me to sit at Thy feet and hear Thy word." Amen. 



30 Studies in the Life of St. Paul IV :$ 

Study IV.— C^e Christian Cfottrcj) : jFitst Jftitacles 
an* jFtnst ©rials 

Fifth Day : The Release of the Apostles 

The apostles, when released by the Sanhedrin, went back to 
their brethren, and told them what had taken place. With one 
accord they all gave thanks to God, and asked Him for increased 
power to preach the Word. The Holy Spirit then descended mightily 
upon them. 

i. Read Acts 4:23-31. 

2. In what place is it likely that the apostles found "their own com- 

pany" (verse 23) gathered? 

3. The prayer contained in verses 24-30 is one of the longest prayers 

in the New Testament. What other prayer of the apostles have 
you already found in the book of Acts? 

4. From what Psalm are verses 25 and 26 taken? 

5. Verse 31: The gift of the Holy Spirit comes after preparation 

of the heart by prayer. The possession of the Holy Spirit gives 
joy to the individual life and power to affect the lives of 
others. 

Thought for To-day: Have you ever longed for the joy and 
the power that proceed from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? 
Have you sought by preparation of the heart and by prayer to secure 
the presence of this Spirit? 

Prayer : "Come, O Lord, in much mercy down into my soul, and 
take possession and dwell there. A homely mansion, I confess, for 
SO' glorious a Majesty, but such as Thou art fitting up for the recep- 
tion of Thee, by holy and fervent desires of Thine own inspiring. 
Enter then, and adorn, and make it such as Thou canst inhabit, 
since it is the work of Thy hands. Give me Thine own Self, with- 
out which, though Thou shouldst give me all that ever Thou hast 
made, yet could not my desires be satisfied. Let my soul ever seek 
Thee, and let me persist in seeking, till I have found, and am in 
full possession of Thee." Amen. 



IV :6 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 31 



Study IV.— €l)t C&rtetian Clmrcl) : iFirct JHirackfli 
anB jFinst Curtate 

Sixth Day : Christian Socialism : Death of Ananias 
and Sapphira 

In these early days the Christians had all things in common. The 
^ rich provided for the poor. Many sold their houses and lands, and 
distributed the money among the needy. Ananias and his wife 
Sapphira, after selling a possession, brought part of the money to 
the apostles, but represented that it was the entire sum. On account 
of this sin both Ananias and Sapphira instantly lost their lives. 

1. Read Acts 4:32-37. 

2. Were the members of the Christian Church obliged to give their 

possessions up to the common store? See Acts 5:4. 

3. Barnabas (verse 36) seems to have known St. Paul early in life, 

judging from subsequent passages in Acts. Perhaps in youth 
Barnabas may have attended the university at Tarsus. Cyprus, 
the home of Barnabas, is less than fifty miles south of Tarsus. 
See map, p. 64. 

4. Read Acts 5:1-11. 

5. In what way does the sin of Ananias and Sapphira exhibit (1) 

deliberate intention to do wrong, (2) pride, (3) avarice, (4) 
contempt for God, and (5) disregard of the truth? 

6. Why were Ananias and Sapphira punished so severely? 

7. The word "church" (verse 11) is here used for the first time in 

the book of Acts. "Church" in Acts 2:47 (Authorized Version) 
is an interpolation, and does not appear in the Revised Version. 
Prayer: "Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all 
desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the 
thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that 
we may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify Thy Holy Name, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen. 



32 Studies in the Life of St. Paul IV 7 

Study IV.— C^e Cfctustian Clmrcl) : jFttat iftitacleis 
an* first Criate 

Seventh Day: The Growth of the Church 

The spiritual power of the apostles and the charity of the Chris- 
tian believers brought multitudes of converts into the Church ; many 
miracles were wrought by the apostles; and the report of all these 
things spread about the surrounding district of Judea. 

1. Read Acts 5:12-16. 

2. In what verses, previously studied, is it stated that the early 

Christians used to assemble in the temple? 

3. How large do you suppose the Church was at this time? 

4. Verse 16: The region about Jerusalem, that is, the district of 

Judea, is now beginning to learn of the work of the apostles. 
Of what promise is this the fulfilment? See Acts 1:8. 

5. The word translated "vexed" is a Greek term often used by 

ancient Greek medical writers. It is found in only one other 
passage of the New Testament, namely, in Luke 6:18. What 
medical or technical words has the physician Luke used already 
in Acts? 

6. Review rapidly the work of this week by reading the introductory 

paragraph of each lesson. 

"Lord, Thou hast promised grace for grace, 
To all who daily seek Thy face; 
To them who have, Thou givest more 
Out of Thy vast, exhaustless store. 

"Each step we take but gathers strength 
For further progress, till at length, 
With ease the highest steeps we gain, 
And count the mountains but a plain. 

"Help us, O Lord, that we may grow 
In grace as Thou dost grace bestow; 
And still Thy richer gifts repeat 
Till grace in glory is complete." 

—Samuel K. Cox. 



V:i Studies in the Life of St. Paul 33 

Study V.— We Cljttettan CJurcj) : C!)e Jurat itetpr 

First Day : The Second Arrest of the Apostles 

The Church continued to increase in numbers and to grow in 
favor with the people. In alarm the Sadducees made a second 
attempt to put down the new faith. They seized the apostles and 
put them in prison. The apostles, miraculously freed by an angel, 
returned at once to their work of preaching and teaching, where- 
upon the Sadducees held them for trial on the charge that they had 
not obeyed when ordered to cease preaching in the name of Jesus. 

1. Read Acts 5:17-26. 

2. What three reasons can you assign as the cause of the indigna- 

tion of the Sadducees (verse 17) ? 

3. How many of the apostles were arrested? See verse 29. 

4. What is meant by the phrase "the words of this life" (verse 20) ? 

Read John 11 125. 

5. Verse 21 : The "council" was the Sanhedrin ; the "senate of the 

children of Israel" seems to have been an advisory body of 
elders. 

6. From verse 26 what inference do you draw concerning the growth 

of the Church? See also Acts 2:47; 3:11 and 12; 4:21; and 5:3. 

7. Verse 26: "Brought them" — to what place did the officers bring 

the apostles? See verse 27. 
"The same body which had been present at those secret, guilty, 
tumultuous, illegal meetings in which they handed over the Lord 
Jesus to their Roman executioners — were again assembled, but now 
with something of misgiving and terror, to make one supreme effort 
to stamp out the Galilean heresy." — Canon Farrar. 



34 Studies in the Life of St. Paul V:2 

Study V.— Cjje Christian Cimrcj) : Cjje Jinst Jftartpt 

Second Day : The Trial of the Apostles Before the 
Sanhedrin : The Speech of Gamaliel 

The apostles, when brought to trial, again proclaimed the resur- 
rection of Christ, and charged the Council with his death. Filled 
with rage, the Sanhedrin planned to slay the apostles, but was 
checked by the coolness and good sense of the Pharisee, Gamaliel, 
the teacher of St. Paul. After beating the apostles, they dismissed 
them with a warning. 

i. Read Acts 5:27-42. 

2. Notice in verse 28 the contemptuous allusion to Jesus in the words, 

"this man's blood." In the Talmud, or Jewish commentary on 
the Old Testament, Jesus is referred to as Peloni, or "so 
and so." 

3. Gamaliel was the most eminent doctor of the law of the times. 

"His counsel as to the apostles was not from any leaning to 
Christianity, but from opposition to Sadduceeism in a case 
where the resurrection was the point at issue, and from seeing 
the folly of unreasoning bigotry." 

4. Nothing more is known concerning Theudas, of verse 36, than 

is there given. Judas of Galilee (verse 37) headed an insur- 
rection in 6 or 7 a.d., when the Romans were making a census 
of the Jews for taxation. His watchword was, "We have no 
Lord or Master but God." 

5. Verse 40: The apostles were beaten or scourged. Their punish- 

ment did not exceed forty strokes, for that was the number 
fixed by the Mosaic law. See Deuteronomy 25 13. 
Thought for To-day: "They therefore departed from the pres- 
ence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to 
suffer dishonor for the Name." For a reason why Christians should 
rejoice in tribulations, see St. Paul's words in Romans 5:3-5. 



V:3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 35 

Study V.—€b* (E&ruittaa Cimrcj) : Cije jFinst iftartpr 

Third Day: Seven Deacons Appointed: Paul Comes 
to Jerusalem 

As the growth of the Church continued, the number of needy 
people dependent on the common funds became so great that the 
apostles had time for little else save the distribution of food, cloth- 
ing, and money. In order, therefore, to have more time for preaching 
and teaching, the apostles appointed seven helpers, or deacons, to 
take charge of the poor. Paul seems to have come to Jerusalem 
from Tarsus about this time. 

1. Read Acts 6:1-7. 

2. The Greek word rendered "Grecian Jews" in the R.V. is incor- 

rectly rendered "Grecians" in the A.V. The Jews of Palestine 
spoke Aramaic, a language akin to Hebrew, though very many 
of them also understood Greek. Most of the Jews outside 
of Palestine spoke Greek. In general the Greek-speaking Jews 
were more liberal than the Hebrew-speaking Jews. The latter, 
because they spoke a language closely related to the Hebrew 
of the Old Testament, felt themselves to be truer to their 
national ideals than were the Jews who habitually used the 
tongue of a pagan people. 

3. How did it happen that the widows of the Greek Jews were 

neglected? 

4. To "serve tables" is to handle money (verse 2). The Greek 

word trapeza {table) also means bank, when applied to the 
tables of money lenders. 

5. Verse 5.: The seven men named in this verse all have Greek 

names. Of the seven, only Stephen and Philip are subsequently 
mentioned in the New Testament. 

6. Paul probably came to Jerusalem about this time, since he was 

present at the stoning of Stephen, which took place not long 
after the events of to-day's lesson. 

7. What special accessions to the ranks of the disciples were there 

at this time? See verse 7. 
Thought for the Day: Stephen was a man "full of faith and 
of the Holy Ghost." The heart that is ready may through faith 
receive the Holy Spirit. Read carefully St. Paul's prayer for the 
Ephesians, in Ephesians 3:14-21, dwelling especially on verse 17. 



36 Studies in the Life of St. Paul V:4 

Study V.— W* Christian Cljttrc!) : Cjje first ;ptattpt 
Fourth Day: Stephen Arraigned Before the San- 

hedrin 

Stephen, the most able and energetic of the seven men appointed 
to distribute the relief funds, soon joined in debate with the foreign 
Jews, and proved too much for them in argument. Whereupon 
they brought him before the Sanhedrin, after preparing lying wit- 
nesses, in order to convict him of blasphemy and put him to death. 
i. Read Acts 6:8-15. 

2. Verse 8: "Six good things about Stephen: 

(1) Full of faith (verse 5). 

(2) Full of the Holy Ghost (v. 5). 

(3) Full of power (v. 8). 

(4) Full of irresistible energy and power (v. 10). 

(5) Full of sunshine (v. 15). 

(6) An intrepid witness for God (chapter 7)." 

— D. L. Moody. 

3. The Libertines (verse 9) were probably the children of Jews who 

had been carried to Rome and then freed at a later time. Cyrene 
was a Greek city of north Africa, Alexandria a Greek city of 
Egypt. Asia in the book of Acts is always the province of 
proconsular Asia. Locate all these cities and regions on the 
map. 

4. It is altogether likely that Paul at this time attended the syna- 

gogue of the Cilicians (verse 9). He would therefore hear the 
arguments of Stephen. 

5. They "set up false witnesses" (verse 13). Compare also Matt. 

26 :59-6i and Mark 14 :S7S9- 

6. It is not exactly clear what the teachings of Stephen were. Ap- 

parently he taught that the Laws of Moses were not essential 
to salvation — that man could be approved of God and justified 
in His sight without obedience to the oral or written law. 

7. Verse 15: "Three men in the Bible whose faces shone: Moses, 

Jesus, and Stephen." — Moody. 
Prayer: "Lord, make us to resemble even here the heavenly 
kingdom, through mutual love, where all hatred is quite banished, 
and all is full of love, and, consequently, full of joy and gladness." 
Amen. L 



V:5 Studies in the Life of St. Paid $7 

Study V.— &!>e CJrtettan CJmrcJ : C&e Jurat iHattpr 

Fifth Day : Stephen's Defense Before the Sanhedrin 

Stephen, when arraigned before the council, delivered the speech 
or sermon contained in the seventh chapter of Acts. This sermon 
consists of two parts, (i) a historical part (verses 2-47), and (2) 
a doctrinal part with personal application to his hearers (verses 
48-53). 

1. Read the first part of Stephen's address: Acts 7:1-47. 

2. These verses are an excellent epitome of Jewish history from 

the call of Abraham down to the building of Solomon's Temple. 
Verses 2-16 are an abridgment of the contents of the book of 
Genesis ; verses 17-41 are an abridgment of the first thirty-two 
chapters of Exodus ; while verses 42-47 constitute in briefest 
possible form a synopsis of the narrative contained in Exodus 
(chapters 33-40), Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, 
Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 Kings 1-8. 

3. The verses you have read to-day should help you to understand 

better the position of the Jews : their intense national pride ; 

their knowledge of God's constant kindness to them in the past ; 

their feeling of superiority over their less-favored neighbors; 

and their devotion to their own peculiar rites and ceremonies. 
Prayer: "Help me, O Lord, that I may not, like the children of 
Israel of old, be blind to Thy leading. Grant that I may see how 
Thou orderest all things for my good, and enable me to trust Thee, 
and love Thee, and serve Thee day by day." Amen. 



38 Studies in the Life of St. Paul V:6 

Study V.—Qfyt Christian dmtcJ) : We jFmst f&wctyx 

Sixth Day: Stephen's Defense Before the Sanhe- 

drin (Continued) 

After Stephen had reviewed the history of the Jews from the 
call of Abraham down to the building of Solomon's Temple, he 
passed, by a rapid transition, to the statement that God dwells not 
in temples made by hands, but in the temple of the human heart. 
Failure to recognize this had led the Jews to resist the Holy Ghost 
and slay Jesus, the Just One. 

1. Read the second part of Stephen's address : Acts 7 :48-53. 

2. Does Stephen answer at all the false charges brought against him 

in chapter 6, verses 13 and 14? 

3. What three specific charges does Stephen bring against his hear- 

ers in verses 51 to 53 of chapter 7? 

4. Can you prove, from any passages of Acts already studied, the 

truth of these charges made by Stephen against the Jews? 

5. With verses 48 and 49 compare what Paul says in Acts 17:24 and 

25. 

Thought for To-day: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of 
God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile 
the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God 
is holy, which temple ye are." St. Paul, First Epistle to the Cor- 
inthians, 3:16 and 17. 

Prayer: "Open wide the window of our spirits, and fill us full 
of light; open wide the door of our hearts, that we may receive 
and entertain Thee with all our powers of adoration and love." 
Amen. 



V:7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 39 

Study V.— W* C&rtetian CImtci) : Cjje jFmst Jflartpr 

Seventh Day: The Murder of Stephen: Paul Ap- 
proves the Deed 

The Jews, cut to the heart by the words of Stephen, rushed upon 
him, dragged him outside the city, and stoned him to death. Paul 
was present, and took an approving part, at least, in the death of 
Stephen. 

1. Read Acts 7:54-60. 

2. What three reasons did you discover in yesterday's lesson for the 

frenzy of the Jews against Stephen? 

3. Verse 38: In stoning Stephen outside the city the Jews were 

obeying the Mosaic law. See Leviticus 24:13-16. But which 
one of the Ten Commandments did they break? 

4. The witnesses were obliged to cast the first stones, hence they 

removed their outer garments. See Deuteronomy 17:6 and 7. 

5. A young man whose name was Saul. This is the first mention 

of Paul in the book of Acts. He is here called by his Hebrew 
name Saul. The name Paul is not introduced until Acts 13 :g. 

(a) How did it happen that Paul had both a Hebrew and a 

Roman name? 

(b) In what year was Stephen stoned? 

(c) How old was Paul at this time? 

6. What part did Paul take in the death of Stephen? Read Acts 

8:1 (first sentence), and Acts 22:20. 

7. Why did Paul consent to his death? 

8. Read slowly Acts 7:54-60, and 8:1 (first sentence), and let your 

imagination picture to you the death of the first martyr and 

the approving part taken by Paul. 
Prayer : "Living or dying, Lord, I would be Thine ; keep me 
Thine own forever, and draw me day by day nearer to Thyself, 
until I be wholly filled with Thy love, and fitted to behold Thee, face 
to face." Amen. 



PART III 

Paul the Persecutor Converted 

Study VI. — Paul Persecutes the Church: The Church Spreads 

Beyond Judea 
Study VII. — The Conversion of Paul 
Study VIII. — The Gospel is Extended to the Gentiles 



VI: i Studies in the Life of St. Paul 43 

Study VI.— flattl Tpzv&ztutcss tlje C&tttel) : Clje Clmrc& 
J^preaUs ^cprniU 3TttXiea 

First Day : Paul the Persecutor 

Paul, believing that the followers of Jesus had embraced a danger- 
ous heresy, and were likely to bring into contempt the laws of Moses 
and the services of the Temple, now took up with vigor the perse- 
cution of the Church. He thought he could stamp out the growing 
sect. So severe was the persecution that the Church was scattered 
throughout Judea and Samaria. The very means taken to suppress 
the Church only resulted in its wider diffusion. 

1. Read Acts 8:1-3. 

2. From the standpoint of Paul's training and education, what reason 

or reasons were there why he should persecute the Church? 

3. In his speech before Agrippa (Acts 26:10), Paul says of this 

persecution, "and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, 
having received authority from the chief priests; and when 
they were put to death I gave my vote against them" (Revised 
Version). From the last clause of the quotation it is inferred 
by some that Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin. 

4. If Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin, in order to meet the 

requirements for admission to that body he must have been 
at least thirty years old, and must have been married. Accord- 
ing to the dates given in an earlier lesson of this book, Paul was 
thirty-two years old at this time. Paul nowhere mentions his 
wife; in fact, he distinctly says in 1 Cor. 7:8 that he has no 
wife. First Corinthians was written about 57 a.d. If Paul 
was a member of the Sanhedrin, and was married, it is likely 
that his wife died before 57 a.d. 

5. Paul by his persecution was spreading the Church. "Saul, the 

persecutor, was doing by opposite means the same work as Paul 
the Apostle." 
Prayer : "O Lord, forgive what I have been, sanctify what I am ; 
and order what I shall be." Amen, 



44 Studies in the Life of St. Paul vi:2 

Study VI— $attf persecute* t&e Cfjurtfe : W$z CImtc& 

^preaHfli 38epon& 3Fttoea 

Second Day: Paul the Persecutor (Continued) 

In his letters and speeches Paul speaks with deepest regret of his 
persecution of the Christians. Several of these passages are cited 
below, and form the subject of to-day's lesson. 
i. Paul's work of persecution was conscientiously done : Acts 26 :g. 

2. It was done with vehemence and vigor: Acts 26:10-11; Galatians 

1 :i3 ; Philippians 3 :6. 

3. It was done through ignorance and unbelief: I Timothy 1:12 

and 13. 

4. Jesus Himself foretold such persecution: John 16:2. 

"Terrible were the scenes which ensued. He flew from synagogue 
to synagogue, and from house to house, dragging forth men and 
women, who were cast into prison and punished. Some appear to 
have been put to death, and, darkest trait of all, others were com- 
pelled to blaspheme the name of the Saviour." 

"It may seem too venturesome to call this the last stage of Paul's 
unconscious preparation for his apostolic career. But so indeed it 
was. In entering on the career of a persecutor he was going on 
straight in the line of the creed in which he had been brought up; 
and this was its reduction to an absurdity. Besides, through the 
gracious working of Him whose highest glory is out of evil still 
to bring forth good, there sprang out of these sad doings in the 
mind of Paul an intensity of humility, a willingness to serve even 
the least of the brethren of those whom he had abused, and a zeal 
to redeem lost time by the parsimonious use of what was left, which 
became permanent spurs to action in his subsequent career."— Stalker. 



VI :3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 45 

Study VI.— JJattl persecutes tjje Cbttrcl) : €j)e Cfjurtl) 

J^preaUs 3Sepon& 3fu&ea 

Third Day: The Church Scattered by Persecution 

Many times in the history of the Church its enemies have endeav- 
ored to kill it by persecution. Such attempts have usually resulted 
in spreading the Church over a wider area, and in diffusing the 
doctrines of Christianity among a greater mass of men. The perse- 
cution that arose after the death of Stephen had this same result. 

1. Read Acts 8:1 and 4, noticing particularly the regions to which 

the Christians flee for safety. 

2. It is Luke's practice to unfold in methodical fashion the orderly 

growth of the Church. First he makes the general statement 
contained in chapter 8, verses 1 and 4, concerning the dispersion 
of the Christians. Next he proceeds to name specific towns and 
cities where the Gospel was preached. 

3. Loosely inserted in this book is an outline map of the Pauline 

World. As stated in the introduction (p. xiii), this map is 
to be used in tracing the growth of the Church and in showing 
the part that St. Paul took in that development. If from this 
time on you mark with a cross (X) by means of red ink or 
a red pencil all the places in which Paul or the apostles preach 
the Gospel, you will be able to follow in an interesting manner 
the extension of the Church through the Roman Empire. 

4. The Gospel has now been thoroughly preached in Jerusalem : See 

Acts 5 128. Mark Jerusalem with a cross. 

5. Believers are now scattered throughout the regions of Judea and 

Samaria. They are telling the Gospel story and are preparing 
the way for the work of the apostles. Place two or three 
crosses in Judea and in Samaria. 

6. The Gospel has now spread from Jerusalem through Judea and 

Samaria. Of what promise of Christ is this the fulfilment? 
Acts 1 :8. 



46 Studies in the Life of St. Paul VI 14 

Study VI.— JJattl JJcrsecutefli t&e Cfmrcfc: &&e Cfctttcfc 

Fourth Day : Philip Preaches in Samaria 

Through the influence of Christian refugees from Jerusalem, and 
through the preaching of Philip, the Gospel now spreads beyond 
Judea into the region of Samaria. Samaria was a district inhabited 
by a mixed people, partly of Eastern and partly of Hebrew origin. 
Upon the Samaritans the Jews themselves looked with scorn and 
contempt. Therefore the extension of the Gospel to the Samaritans 
was an important event, inasmuch as it was the first step away from 
Jewish exclusiveness in the direction of the Gentiles. 

1. Read Acts 8 :5-8. 

2. Who was Philip, mentioned in verse 5? See Acts 6:5. 

3. Samaria lay north of Judea (see map, p. 64). It was occupied 

in ancient times by ten tribes of the Hebrew nation. Part 
of this population was carried off in 722 B.C. by Sargon, king 
of Assyria. Later the kings of Assyria brought thousands of 
men from Arabia and from the region of the Tigris and Euphra- 
tes, and settled them in Samaria. These newcomers intermar- 
ried with the Jews who had remained in the land, and produced 
the mixed race known as the Samaritans. The Samaritans 
claimed kinship with the Jews, and maintained a rival Temple 
of Jehovah on Mount Gerizim. The Jews regarded them as little 
better than Gentiles. 

4. For a reference in the Gospels to the relations existing between 

Jews and Samaritans, see John 4:9. 

5. Samaria was prepared for the preaching of Philip: 

(a) By the labors of Jesus. See John 4:39-42. 

(b) By Christian refugees. See Acts 8:1 and 4. 

6. The Samaritans had the Hebrew Scriptures, and kept the Law of 

Moses. On the other hand, they were partly of Jewish and 
partly of Gentile blood. They were one of the links between 
Jews and Gentiles. 

7. Mark the city of Samaria with a cross upon your outline map. 



VI :5 Studies in the Life of St. Paid 47 

Study VL-— flattl ^tvmutte i&e Cfjurc^ : W$t C|)urc|) 
Fifth Day: Philip and Simon the Sorcerer 

While Philip was preaching in Samaria, the apostles Peter and 
John came down from Jerusalem and laid their hands upon the 
Samaritan converts, who immediately received the gift of the Holy 
Spirit. Among these converts was a sorcerer named Simon. Seeing 
what was done, and wishing to use this gift for improper purposes, 
Simon brought money and offered it to the apostles that he might 
obtain the power to communicate the Holy Spirit. For this covetous 
and presumptuous deed he was sternly rebuked. 

1. Read Acts 8:9-25. 

2. Verse 9: It is not clear by what means Simon performed his 

wonders, whether by sleight-of-hand, clairvoyance, or hypno- 
tism. 

3. Why did the apostles at Jerusalem send Peter and John down 

into Samaria? 

4. Simon's sin lay in the motive that prompted him to secure the 

power of communicating the Holy Spirit, and also in the 
thought that the Holy Spirit could be bought for money. He 
wanted the Holy Spirit not for his own spiritual growth and 
advancement, but to use as a wonder and as a means by which 
he might astonish the people. 

5. What does the word simony mean? 

6. Verse 25 : The Gospel has spread still farther about Samaria. 

Place one or two additional crosses in the region of Samaria 
on your outline map. 
Thought for the Day: God will not let us bargain with Him 
for righteousness or for His approval. Have you ever vowed that 
if God would grant you the desire of your heart you would serve 
Him? Do you not already owe Him the loving service of your life 
in return for what He has done and is doing for you? 



48 Studies in the Life of St. Paul VI :6 

Study VI.— JJattl persecute** t&e CImtcl) : Cfje Cfmrt!) 
^preaUg ^SepontJ 3TtOiea 

Sixth Day : Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch 

While Peter and John were preaching in Samaria, Philip was 
sent by an angel to meet the chamberlain or treasurer of Candace, 
queen of Ethiopia. This chamberlain had been at Jerusalem to 
worship, and was now on his way back to Africa. Taught by 
Philip, the eunuch confessed Christ, and was baptized. 

1. Read Acts 8:26-40. 

2. Verse 26: There were two roads from Jerusalem to Gaza. The 

northern road led to Ascalon, then down the coast to Gaza ; the 
southern road led past Hebron, through desert country, to 
Gaza. 

3. Ethiopia was a country of uncertain extent lying south of Egypt, 

between the Nile and the Red Sea. Ethiopia and the Ethiopians 
are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament. After Egypt 
had been made a Greek kingdom by Alexander and his suc- 
cessors, Greek literature penetrated into Ethiopia. Thither 
also seems to have gone the Greek version of the Old Testa- 
ment, for from it the eunuch was reading. 

4. Verses 32 and 33 : These verses are quoted from the Septuagint 

or Greek version of the Old Testament. 

5. To whom does the prophecy in verses 32 and 33 refer? 

6. Tradition says that the eunuch became the founder of the Chris- 

tian Church in Ethiopia. For a prophecy regarding Ethiopia 
see Psalm 68, latter part of verse 31. 

7. In your outline map mark with crosses the cities of Azotus and 

Caesarea. 

8. Philip is not mentioned again in Acts until verse 8 of chapter 21, 

when Paul and his party were entertained by him at Caesarea, 
twenty years after the events of to-day's lesson. 
Thought for To-day: Philip obeyed God's messenger and be- 
came a great means of good to the Ethiopian chamberlain. Are you 
ready always to obey the promptings of God's Spirit for service 
among those whom you may influence? 



VI 7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 49 

Study VI.— flattl $zvmutc& tlje C&ttrc!) : C^e Cljttul) 

H>prea&g 3Sepon& Jtt&ea 

Seventh Day: Review Lesson 

You have now finished the Studies which precede the conversion 
of Paul. Before going on it will be helpful to review briefly the 
work of the past six weeks. 

1. What were the three world-nations in St. Paul's time? 

2. How did each nation help prepare the way for the spread of 

Christianity? 

3. What was the moral condition of the world at this time? 

4. When and where did Christianity rise? 

5. When and where was St. Paul born ? 

6. How was he qualified to work and preach in a world that was 

at the same time Greek, Roman, and Jewish? 

7. What did Paul study at Jerusalem? 
?. Did Paul see Jesus? 

9. What promise and what prophecy did Jesus make to His dis- 
ciples on the day of His ascension? 

10. What were some of the results of the descent of the Holy Spirit? 

11. What causes led to the death of Stephen? 

12. Trace the spread of Christianity outward from Jerusalem. 

13. What has been Paul's attitude toward the Christian Church, and 

why has he taken this attitude? 
Prayer: "Almighty God, our heavenly Father, without whose 
help labor is useless, without whose light search is vain, invigorate 
my studies, and direct my inquiries, that I may by due diligence 
and right discernment establish myself and others in Thy holy faith. 
Let me not linger in ignorance, but enlighten and support me, for 
the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen. 



50 Studies in the Life of St. Paul VII :i 

Study VII. — We Conversion of JJattl 
First Day: Paul on the Road to Damascus 

Paul hoped to stamp out the new faith, but his vigorous persecu- 
tion of the Christians only resulted in scattering them throughout 
judea, Samaria and the regions beyond. Enraged because his efforts 
to destroy had operated to spread the new belief, Paul secured let- 
ters from the high priest, and set out for Damascus to arrest all 
Christians whom he might find in that city. As Paul drew near 
to Damascus a voice from heaven spoke to him, he fell to the ground, 
and was smitten with blindness. His companions then led him into 
the city. 

1. Read Acts 9:1-9. 

2. What do you suppose were Paul's thoughts while on the way to 

Damascus ? 

3. Verse 5 : With this verse compare Acts 26 114, and notice the state- 

ment, "It is hard for thee to kick against the goad." This 
is a metaphor derived, like so many of the figures and illustra- 
tions of Jesus, from the scenes of country life. The figure is 
that of an ox kicking against the goad. It was a proverbial 
expression, signifying "to offer vain resistance." This verse 
is of the utmost importance for understanding Paul's condition 
of heart at this time. He was trying to be righteous by obeying 
the Mosaic law. His zeal for the Law caused him to persecute 
the Christians. He may have seen in the daily life and char- 
acter of the Christians whom he persecuted that which led him 
to doubt and question his own course. Yet to quiet the prick 
of conscience he threw himself heart and soul into the work of 
making havoc of the Church. 

4. What were some of Paul's thoughts during the next three days? 
Thought for the Day : During his three days of blindness Paul's 

whole previous life "fell down in fragments at his feet." He had 
sought to gain the favor of God by scrupulous obedience to the Law. 
His life had been consistent but misdirected. Are you trying to 
secure the favor of God by rules and laws of your own making, 
rather than by accepting Him by faith as your Saviour? 



VII \2 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 51 

Study VII.— CZTJe Confeergton of $attl 

Second Day : The Conversion of Paul 

While Paul, fasting and in darkness, was thinking and praying 
over the strange experience that had befallen him, he had a vision 
in which a disciple named Ananias came to him and restored his 
sight. Simultaneously, Ananias was prepared by means of a vision 
to visit Paul. Accordingly. Ananias went to Paul, and laid his hands 
upon him. At once Paul received his sight and was filled with the 
Holy Ghost. He then received Christian baptism, and remained 
some days with the disciples. 

1. Read Acts 9:10-19. 

2. For what was Paul praying (verse 11) ? 

3. Judging from the narrative, what was the condition of Paul's 

heart at this time? 

4. Verse 15 : In this verse the three world-peoples of St. Paul's time 

are named : 

(a) Romans : The "Kings" before whom Paul appeared were 
Nero and King Agrippa, also remotely, the rulers Felix 
and Festus, who represented the Roman Emperor in the 
East. 

(b) Greeks : The word "Gentile" is often used as a designa- 
tion of the Greek pagan world. 

(c) Jews: The "children of Israel." 

5. "Then was Paul certain days with the disciples which were at 

Damascus." The expression rendered "certain days" may be 
translated "some days." It is found also in Acts 10:48; 15:36; 
16:12; 24:24; and 25:13. In all these passages the time indi- 
cated is brief. 

"The Shepherd sought His sheep, 
The Father sought His child ; 
He followed me o'er vale and hill, 

O'er deserts waste and wild; 
He found me nigh to death, 

Famished, and faint, and lone; 
He bound me with the bands of love, 
He saved the wandering one." 

-—Horatius Bomr. 



52 Studies in the Life of St. Paul VII 13 

Study VII.— We Ccmtoersfatt of JJattl 

Third Day : Paul Preaches in Damascus 

During the short time that Paul tarried in Damascus he visited 
the synagogues and preached Christ. In the synagogues were many 
devout Jews, probably, also, some Greek proselytes. The Jews of 
Damascus seem to have been less fanatical than the Jews of Jerusa- 
lem ; consequently Paul, at first, was able to gain a hearing. 

1. Read Acts 9:20-22. 

2. Verse 21 : From this verse it would seem that the synagogue 

congregations of Damascus were not greatly disturbed by the 
preaching of Christian doctrine. 

(a) Were the Jews outside of Palestine more or less liberal 
than the Jews of Palestine? 

(b) How do you account for this difference? 

3. Damascus is perhaps the oldest city in the world. It early 

became the most important city of Syria. Its importance was 
due to its situation and to the wealth which it accumulated. 
For the commercial importance of Damascus, see Ezekiel 27:16 
and 18. 

4. Mark Damascus with a cross on your outline map. 

5. Verse 22 : Paul, the well-trained Rabbi, skilled in all the subtle 

arguments of the Pharisees, now brings all his extensive knowl- 
edge of the Old Testament and its traditions to prove that Jesus 
is the Messiah. 
Thought for the Day : "Straightway he preached Christ." Paul 
is remarkable for his intensity, vigor, and promptness of action. 
A verse in one of his letters to Timothy may be said to be his motto : 
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season, reprove, 
rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." 2 Tzm. 4:2. 



VII :4 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 53 

Study VII.— C&e Contension of flattl 
Fourth Day: Paul Retires to Arabia 

After preaching a few days in Damascus, Paul retired to Arabia 
for rest and meditation. How long he remained in Arabia is not 
entirely certain, yet his sojourn was not over three years. 
1. Read Galatians 1 :i5-i7. 

2 Arabia, a vast region bounded on the north by Palestine and 
Syria, on the east by the Euphrates and the Persian Gulf, on the 
south by the Arabian Sea and the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb; and 
on the west by the Red Sea and Egypt. See map, p. 64. Notice 
that a portion of Arabia lies east of Damascus. 

3. Can you think of any reasons why Paul should withdraw to 

Arabia? 

4. What leader of Old Testament times spent forty years of retire- 

ment in Arabia ? See Acts 7 129 and 30. 

5. Paul retired to Arabia probably because he wished to gain time 

for rest and reflection. The whole current of his life had been 
changed. He wanted time to think over the past, to realize the 
significance of the present, and to prepare for his work in the 
future. It is likely that during this period of retirement his 
conception of the divine plan of salvation by faith took form 
— a conception which he later set forth fully in his letter to 
the Romans. Paul had sought the favor of God by excessive 
zeal for the Law of Moses and the traditions of the fathers. 
Now he had found that God's favor and approval were secured 
by repentance and by faith in Jesus Christ. Read Romans 
3:19-28. 
Thought for To-day: Goethe says: "Talent develops itself in 
solitude; character in the stream of life." St. Paul's retirement into 
Arabia prepared him for the severe toils and labors that awaited 
him in the world; and these hardships, when they came, all con- 
tributed to fashion his character into that strength which excites 
our admiration. 



54 Studies in the Life of St. Paul VII :5 

Study VII. — C&e Conversion of JJattl 

Fifth Day : Paul Returns to Damascus : His Flight 
to Jerusalem 

After his period of retirement in Arabia, Paul returned to Damas- 
cus, and took up again with increased power his work in the syna- 
gogues. Learning of a plot of the Jews to kill him, Paul escaped 
from Damascus, and went to Jerusalem, where he remained a short 
time with the disciples. 

1. Read Acts 9:23-28. 

2. The "many days" of verse 23 constitute the time from Paul's 

conversion to his escape to Jerusalem, and include his sojourn 
in Arabia. How long a space of time was this? Gal. 1 :i8. 

3. The "three years" of Gal. 1 :i8 may be actually only a little over 

a year. According to Jewish methods of reckoning, from a 
point near the end of one year to a point shortly after the 
beginning of the second year following was a space of three 
years. 

4. Paul himself tells how the Jews lay in wait for him at Damascus : 

2 Cor. 11:32, 33- 

5. Why did the Jews seek to kill Paul? 

6. "Aretas the King," mentioned in 2 Cor. 11:32, was the king of 

Arabia. Damascus was a city of the Roman province of 
Syria. Damascene coins of Augustus and Tiberius, and after- 
ward of Nero and other emperors, have been found, but none 
for the reign of Caligula. Therefore, it seems probable that 
during his reign (37-41 a.d.) some change in the government 
took place. From 2 Cor. 11:32 it appears that Damascus be- 
longed to Arabia at the time when Paul made his escape. Paul's 
escape, therefore, must have taken place at some time within the 
years 37-41 a.d. 

7. Why was Barnabas the one to befriend Paul at Jerusalem? See 

p. 31, section 3. 

8. How many apostles were in Jerusalem at this time? See Gala- 

tians 1 : 18-20. 

9. How long did Paul stay at Jerusalem? 

Thought for the Day : Observe with what power Paul does his 
work after his retirement in Arabia. Do you personally know the 
value of the quiet hour for self-examination and prayer as a prepara- 
tion for service? 



VII :6 Studies in the Life of St. Paid 55 

Study VII.— CTfte Contermon of J3attl 

Sixth Day : Paul Preaches at Jerusalem : His 
Flight to Tarsus 

During his stay of two weeks at Jerusalem, Paul spoke and taught 
boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. So vigorous was his preach- 
ing that the Jews were moved with anger, and sought to kill him, 
but Paul escaped and went to Tarsus. 

1. Read Acts 9:29 and 30. 

2. Verse 29: The word translated "Grecian Jews" in the R.V. is 

incorrectly rendered "Grecians" in the A.V. 

3. Paul probably preached in the very synagogues in which Stephen 

had been so active. See Acts 6:9. 

4. Why did the Greek Jews plan to slay Paul? 

5. During this sojourn of a fortnight in Jerusalem, Paul had a vision 

in which his mission to the Gentiles was stated to him clearly. 

(a) Read Acts 22:17-21. 

(b) Had Paul known before this time that he should be an 
apostle to the Gentiles? See Acts 22:12-15. 

6. Verse 29: Paul now begins to suffer the trials that were his 

promised lot. See Acts 9:16. 
Lesson Thought: The opposition that Paul met in Jerusalem 
must have caused him deep sorrow. He had hoped, undoubtedly, 
to undo some of the wrong he had done to the Christian Church 
in that city. But God's plans are wider than the plans of men. It 
was His design that Paul should preach to the world, not to the 
provincial city of Jerusalem; hence came the command: "Depart, 
for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles." 



56 Studies in the Life of St. Paul VII 7 

Study VIL— Clje Contusion of J)atti 
Seventh Day : Review Lesson 

The apostles have now spread the Gospel over Judea and Samaria. 
The next step is to extend it to the Gentiles. Before passing to 
this new subject, Luke inserts in his narrative a brief summary of 
the growth of the Church. 

1. Read Acts 9:31. 

2. Such summaries as the one just read are placed by Luke at the 

end of distinct periods in the growth of the Church. What 
ones have you noticed already? 

3. Read rapidly in review the introductory paragraphs of the lessons 

of this Study (VII), pp. 50-56. 

4. Paul is now at Tarsus. By his birth of Jewish parents in a Greek 

city, and by his possession of Roman citizenship, he is ideally 
qualified to labor anywhere in the world. By his training at 
Jerusalem, his conversion, his meditation in Arabia, and by 
his preaching at Damascus and Jerusalem, he has been fitted 
to labor as a Christian missionary. He is now at Tarsus await- 
ing orders, 

5. While Paul was at Tarsus he may have founded some Christian 

churches in Cilicia. In Acts 15 '.23, churches of Cilicia are 
mentioned, though no account is given of their planting. 

6. Mark Tarsus with a cross on your outline map. 

7. Study your outline map carefully, noticing particularly all towns 

or cities in which the Gospel has been preached up to this 

point in the narrative. 
Prayer: "O God, who through the preaching of the blessed 
Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine 
throughout the world; grant, we beseech Thee, that we, having 
his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show forth our 
thankfulness unto Thee for the same, by following the holy doc- 
trine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen. 



VIII: i 'Studies in the Life of St. Paul 57 

Study VIII. — Oje (Gospel ts CjcteniJcU to tljc <8t\\\i\z& 
First Day : Peter at Lydda and Joppa 

While Paul sojourned at Tarsus, the Church was prepared for 
his labors by a step of the greatest importance. That step was the 
extension of the Gospel to the Gentiles, and was due to the work 
of Peter while engaged in a preaching tour of Palestine. 

1. Read Acts 9:32-43. 

2. The phrase "throughout all quarters" (or "parts") seems to 

indicate that Peter had been traveling about, in order to preach 
and to strengthen the churches. When Paul visited Jerusalem 
a little before this time, how many of the apostles did he find 
in the city? See Gal. 1:18 and 19. Where were the others? 

3. Locate Lydda on your outline map, and mark it with a cross, 

for there were "saints" at Lydda. 

4. y£neas (Eneas) is a Greek name. Probably this iEneas was a 

Greek Jew. 

5. Sharon, not indicated on the map, was a fertile plain lying between 

Joppa and Csesarea along the sea. 

6. Locate and mark Joppa on your map. 

7. Verse 36 : The woman named in this verse seems to have been 

a Greek-speaking Jewess. Her Greek name Dorcas {gazelle) is 
a translation of her Hebrew name Tabitha (gazelle). 

8. The fact that Peter lodged in the house of a tanner (verse 43) 

is significant. The trade of tanning was an abomination to the 

Jews. Peter sets aside this prejudice to lodge with Simon. 

It was no great step to go next into the home of the Gentile 

Cornelius. 
Lesson Thought: Little did Peter know, when he went out on 
his preaching tour, that in the providence of God he would be the 
means of extending the Gospel to the Gentiles, and that this step 
would prepare the Church for the still greater labors of St Paul. 



58 Studies in the Life of St. Paul VIII :2 

Study VIII. — Cljc (S5o0pel is %tettfje& to tf)c (Seattle 
Second Day: Peter and the Gentile Cornelius 

There was in Csesarea a devout Roman centurion named Cornelius, 
who was seeking the favor of God. By means of a vision Cornelius 
was instructed to send messengers to Joppa for Simon Peter, who 
should tell him what he ought to do. While the messengers of the 
centurion were on their way to Joppa, Peter was made ready for 
his visit to Cornelius by a special revelation that taught him to set 
aside his Jewish scruples. 

1. The vision of Cornelius: Read Acts 10:1-8. 

2. What is the character of the centurions mentioned in the New 

Testament? See Matt. 8:5; Luke 23:47; Acts 27:1-3. 

3. Cornelius was probably a proselyte. He attended the synagogue 

services, but was not circumcised, nor had he adopted the 
peculiar ceremonial rules of the Jews. 

4. Many Gentiles had become dissatisfied with their religion. Heathen 

worship was not only superstitious, but also at times, and in 
some places, grossly immoral. The comparatively pure worship 
of the Jews was attractive to many thoughtful Gentiles, who 
as proselytes (or "comers") attended the synagogues. 

5. The vision of Peter: Read Acts 10:9-18. 

6. The Jews felt that physical contact with the Gentiles resulted 

in moral contamination. To enter the house of a Gentile, to 

eat with him, or to have any social relations with him, rendered 

a Jew ceremonially unfit for worship. A special revelation, 

therefore, was necessary to enable Peter to set aside his Jewish 

prejudices and go to the home of the Roman centurion. 

Prayer: "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth. Grant us ears 

to hear, eyes to see, wills to obey, hearts to love; then declare what 

Thou wilt, reveal what Thou wilt, command what Thou wilt, demand 

what Thou wilt." Amen. 



VIII :3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 59 

Study VIII.— C&e Gospel is ^jctenUeH to tl;e Gentiles 
Third Day: Peter and the Gentile Cornelius (Con- 
tinued) 

When the messengers of Cornelius came to Joppa, Peter readily- 
consented to accompany them back to Cassarea. As soon as he had 
arrived at Caesarea, Cornelius made known to him his vision, and 
begged him to declare fully the will of God. 
i. Read Acts 10:19-33. 

2. What have you inferred concerning the personal influence of 

Cornelius? See verses 7 and 24. 

3. Why was it an "unlawful thing" for a Jew to keep company with 

a man of another nation ? 

4. Do you think that Peter knew why he had been sent to visit 

Cornelius ? 

5. Has the Gospel been preached as yet to the Gentiles? 

In view of the subject of to-day's lesson and that of to-morrow, 
consider briefly the standpoint of the Jewish Christian : The Jews 
were the chosen people of God; to them God had revealed Himself 
through prophets and holy men of old; to them Jesus, the Messiah, 
was sent. The Jews were bidden to keep themselves pure from 
Gentile defilements. Proud of the favor of God in the past, and 
proud of their superiority to the despised Gentiles, the Jewish 
Christians looked upon the Christian Church as the consummation 
of the Jewish Church. The first Christians were all Jews ; what 
more natural than for them to think that a Gentile, to become a 
Christian, must first become a Jew, be circumcised, and keep all 
the Law of Moses? They were slow to see that the Gospel was 
for all, without the trammels of the Mosaic Law. Peter was taught 
this truth by a special revelation ; yet the remaining apostles were 
reluctant to accept it, and a strong party soon formed of those who 
believed in Christianity for Jews only, or for Gentiles who had 
become Jews in all outward respects. This latter party bitterly 
opposed Paul in his work of extending the Church to the Gentiles. 



6o Studies in the Life of St. Paul VIII 14 

Study VIIL— C&e (Gospel i& ^xttnUti to tlje <3tntilt& 

Fourth Day : Cornelius and His Household Are Con- 
verted 

As soon as Peter had heard the words of Cornelius, he uttered a 
momentous saying which clearly indicated that he for the first 
time saw the scope of the plan of salvation : "Of a truth I perceive 
that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that 
feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." 
Peter then preached a brief sermon, after which the Holy Spirit 
descended with power upon all present. 

1. Read Acts 10:34-48. 

2. Why was it important that the recognition of the right of the 

Gentiles to salvation should come first from Peter? 

3. Verses 44-46 : The Pentecost of Acts, chapter 2, was a Jewish 

Pentecost. This is a Gentile Pentecost, accompanied, like its 
great predecessor, with a gift of tongues. 

4. In the Old Testament the promise was made that Salvation should 

come to the Gentiles : 

(a) At the time of the call of Abraham: Genesis 12:3. 

(b) In the time of Isaiah: Isaiah 52:10. 

(c) By the prophet Zephaniah : Zeph. 2:11. 

In the New Testament similar promises are found: 

(d) In the words of Simeon: Luke 2:32. 

(e) The words of Jesus: John 10:16. 

5. How do you suppose Peter spent the time while he tarried in the 

house of Cornelius? 
Prayer: "O Lord, grant all who contend for the faith, never to 
injure it by clamor and impatience; but, speaking Thy precious 
truth in love, so to present it that it may be loved, and that men 
may see in it Thy goodness and beauty." Amen. 



VIII :5 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 61 

Study VIII.— We (Gospel is €*ten&e& to tlje (Gentile* 
Fifth Day : Peter Criticised for Having Eaten With 

Gentiles 

Before Peter returned from Caesarea, it became known in Jerusa- 
lem that he had not only been associating with Gentiles, but had actu- 
ally eaten with them. On his arrival at Jerusalem those Jewish 
Christians who were most zealous for the ceremonial law criticised 
him for his conduct; to justify himself, therefore, Peter rehearsed 
the whole story from the beginning. 
i. Read Acts n :i-i8. 

2. Verse 2 : "They of the circumcision." Already the Jewish Chris- 

tians had begun to divide into a conservative and a liberal party. 
The conservative party — they of the circumcision — while adopt- 
ing Christianity, still clung tenaciously to the ritual and cere- 
monial laws of Judaism. The liberal party, consisting chiefly of 
Greek Jews, were less tenacious of those laws, and were more 
ready to recognize the claims of the Gentiles. 

3. Verse 18: The conservative party was silenced for a time, but 

before long they were at work again, trying to prevent the free 
extension of the Gospel to the Gentiles. They held that all 
Gentiles, in order to embrace Christianity, must first become 
Jews. This party bitterly opposed the Apostle Paul, and tried 
repeatedly to kill him, as will be learned in later lessons. 
Thought for the Day: Do you ever think what a virtue it is 
to be free from prejudice in religious matters? Men differ honestly 
and conscientiously regarding religious rites, ceremonies, and doc- 
trines. Do you have charity enough to regard those men who do 
not belong to your own church or creed as your Christian brethren ? 



62 Studies in the Life of St. Paul VIII :6 

Study VI II.— Cije <3m$zl w C^tenUefc to ilje (Bmtilts 
Sixth Day: The Gospel Is Preached to Greeks at 

Antioch 

Through the preaching of Peter the conversion of the Roman 
centurion took place and prepared the apostles at Jerusalem for 
the extension of the Gospel to the Gentiles. Meanwhile, those Chris- 
tians who were scattered abroad by persecution "went everywhere 
preaching the word." Among these men were some Greek Jews who 
in Antioch preached to Greeks and brought about their conversion. 
On learning of this, the apostles sent Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas 
was greatly pleased with the work of the Greek Jews, and realizing 
that Paul was the man above all others fitted by birth and training 
for such a field, brought him from Tarsus to Antioch. 
i. Read Acts 11:19-26. 

2. Mark with a cross on your outline map Phoenicia (Phenice), 

Cyprus, and Antioch. 

3. Verse 20: In this verse the R.V. gives "Greeks," which is sup- 

ported by the best MSS. The A.V. has "Grecians," i. e., "Greek 
Jews," which does not make good sense when compared with 
the latter part of verse 19. 

4. Antioch was one of the most important cities of the Roman 

Empire. According to Josephus, only Rome and Alexandria 
took precedence of it. 

5. Paul probably came to Antioch in 44 a.d. 

6. Verse 25 : Why did Barnabas think of Paul at this time and 

choose him for this work? 

7. Before the name "Christian" was used, what names were given 

to the members of the new Church? See Acts 5:14; 9:26; 9:32. 
Each of the three world-nations contributed to the name "Chris- 
tian": From the language of the Jews came the word Messiah, 
which means "Anointed" ; the Greek word used to translate this is 
XpiaroS (Christos), Christ, the "Anointed One"; to this was added 
an ending -iccyoS after the Roman fashion; for the Romans often 
formed party names by aading -ianus to the names of leaders; as, 
Pompeiani, "followers of Pompey," Ccesariani, "followers of Caesar," 
etc. The Christiani, or "Christians," are therefore the "followers 
of Christ." 



VIII 7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 63 

Study VIII.— We (0o$pel is entente* to t&e Gentile* 

Seventh Day: Barnabas and Paul Visit Jerusalem 

While Barnabas and Paul were working earnestly among the 
Gentiles at Antioch, a famine broke out in Judea. With true Chris- 
tian generosity and charity the Church at Antioch determined to 
send relief to their brethren at Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas 
were dispatched upon this errand, and after no great time returned 
to Antioch. 

1. Read Acts 11 127-30. 

2. This famine is supposed to have taken place in 45 a.d. 

3. Read Acts 12:25. 

4. The first twenty-four verses of chapter 12 are not included in 

these studies. Verses 1 and 2 contain the statement that 
James, the brother of John, was put to death by Herod. It is 
narrated also that Peter, imprisoned by Herod, made his escape 
by Divine help (verses 3-19). The remainder of the chapter 
is taken up with an account of the death of Herod (44 a.d.). 
It must not be thought because the account of the death of 
Herod intervenes between the account of the journey of Paul 
and Barnabas to Jerusalem and the account of their return to 
Antioch, that they were necessarily in Jerusalem in 44 a.d. 

5. How was John Mark related to Barnabas? See Col. 4:10. 
Prayer: "O God, who hast ordained that whatever is to be 

desired, should be sought by labor, and who, by Thy blessing, bring- 
est honest labor to good effect; look with mercy on my studies and 
endeavors. Grant me calmness of mind and steadiness of purpose, 
that I may so do Thy will in this short life, as to obtain happiness 
in the world to come, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord." 
Amen. 



PART IV 

Paul's First Missionary Journey 

Study IX. — Missions in Cyprus, Perga, and Pisidian Antioch 
Study X. — Missions in Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra: The Re- 
turn to Antioch in Syria 
Study XI. — A Crisis : Must Gentile Christians Keep the Mosaic 
Law? 



IX :i Studies in the Life of St. Paul 67 

Study IX.— jHi^ions in Cpptrus, |3erg;a, anto paititan &nttocI) 

First Day: Barnabas and Paul Chosen for Mission- 
ary Work: They Go to Cyprus 

Antioch was the first city in which Gentiles were converted in 
any considerable numbers ; it was a city also in which Jewish con- 
servatism and exclusiveness were far less marked than in Jerusalem. 
Hence Antioch, rather than Jerusalem, became the headquarters 
for missionary work among the Gentiles. 

Leaving Antioch, Barnabas and Paul went first to the island of 
Cyprus. 

1. Read Acts 13:1-3. 

2. Verse 2 : Did Paul know before this time that he was to preach 

among the Gentiles? 

3. It took great courage and faith on the part of Barnabas and 

Paul to go on this mission to Gentile lands. As Jews they 
would be obliged to meet the contempt which Gentiles felt 
toward Jews; as Christians they would be obliged to incur the 
hatred which the unbelieving Jews extended to all who adopted 
the new religion. 

4. How was Paul specially fitted for his work as a missionary in 

view of the following qualifications : 

(a) His training as a Rabbi? 

(b) His knowledge of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek? 

(c) His Roman citizenship? 

(d) His trade? 

5. Read Acts 13:4 and 5. 

6. Locate Seleucia, Cyprus, and Salamis. 

7. Had the Gospel been preached in Cyprus before this time? See 

Acts 11 :i9. 

8. Mark Salamis with a cross on your outline map. 

9. What relationship existed between Barnabas and John? Read 

first, Acts 12:25, then Colossians 4:10. 
Thought fop the Day: As the disciples earnestly sought God's 
will, the Holy Ghost directed them to take up a special work (verse 
2). If you will sincerely and honestly seek to help the spread of 
God's Kingdom, and will put yourself in His hands to be used as He 
sees fit, you will be startled and amazed at the many opportunities 
you will have for service. 



68 Studies in the Life of St. Paul IX :2 

Study IX.— ffilia&ititui in Cpprue;, J)erg;a, anil pmtoian &nttoc!) 

Second Day: Paul and Barnabas at Paphos: Paul 
and elymas the sorcerer 

Leaving Salamis, Barnabas and Paul journeyed through Cyprus 
until they reached Paphos, on the western coast. Here a sorcerer 
named Elymas sought, from selfish reasons, to oppose the work of 
the apostles. At the command of Paul, Elymas was smitten with 
blindness, 
i. Read Acts 13:6-12. 

2. Paphos was the seat of the worship of Aphrodite ; it was also the 

residence of the Roman proconsul of Cyprus. 

3. Why did the proconsul (or "deputy," as he is called in the A.V.), 

if he was "a man of understanding," have with him the sorcerer 
and false prophet Bar-jesus? Does the latter part of verse 7 
throw any light on this point? 

4. What motive had Elymas in opposing Barnabas and Saul? 

5. Verse 9: Beginning with this verse, Luke uses the name Paul 

instead of Saul throughout the remainder of Acts. What reason 
can you assign for this change? 

6. This is :he first passage in which Paul speaks at length ; he now 

comes to the front as a leader, and takes the initiative against 
Elymas ; his rapidity of action is characteristic. Henceforth he 
occupies the first place in the narrative, while Barnabas is 
secondary. 

7. Mark Paphos on your map with a cross. 

Prayer : "O Lord, give us grace never to parley with temptation, 
never to tamper with conscience; never to spare the right eye, or 
hand, or foot that is a snare to us ; never to lose our souls, though 
in exchange we should gain the whole world." Amen. 



IX :3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 69 

Study IX.— JHififittmfii in Cpprtts, Jkrga, anU J3imirian &nttocI) 

Third Day: Paul Goes from Cyprus to Antioch in 

Pisidia 

On leaving Cyprus, Paul and his company sailed to the southern 
coast of Asia Minor. When they reached Perga in Pamphylia, 
John Mark left them. Paul and Barnabas then proceeded through 
Pamphylia to Antioch of Pisidia, where Paul, as was his custom, 
went into the synagogue of the Jews upon the Sabbath day. 

1. Read Acts 13:13-15. 

2. Notice in verse 13 that Paul is now recognized as leader. Before 

this time Luke has always spoken of them as ''Barnabas and 
Saul." Henceforth it is "Paul and Barnabas." 

3. Perga was an unimportant city of Pamphylia, about eight miles 

from the sea. Locate Perga upon the map. 

4. At Perga, John Mark left the apostles and returned home. His 

reasons for leaving are not known. He may have been dis- 
pleased because Paul had supplanted Barnabas as leader ; he 
may have feared the dangers lying before them in Pamphylia 
and Pisidia — the turbulent streams, rugged mountains, rough 
roads, fierce brigands, and wild, rude peoples speaking strange 
dialects. 

5. Antioch was an important city for missionary work ; it was the 

center of a regio, or subdivision, of the province of Galatia. 

6. Paul enters the synagogue on the Sabbath day and takes part 

in the worship. The main features of the worship of the syna- 
gogue are the following: 

(a) Prayers and opening ritual. 

(b) Reading from the Scriptures: 

1. The "First Lesson," from the Law (Genesis, Exodus, 
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). 

2. The "Second Lesson," from the Prophets (Joshua, 
Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, Isaiah, 
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets). 

(c) An address or sermon. 

There was no regular preacher. After the reading of the Scrip- 
tures, learned men or strangers who chanced to be present would, 
at the request of the officers of the synagogue, address the congrega- 
tion. Read Luke 4:14-21. 



jo Studies in the Life of St. Paul IX:4 

Study IX. — ^Htgstons in Cpprtta;, $3crga, antf JJisttriatt Stnttacb 

Fourth Day: Paul's Sermon at Antioch in Pisidia 

At the request of the synagogue officers, Paul delivered an ad- 
dress or sermon in the synagogue of Antioch to a congregation 
composed of Jews and Gentiles. To-day's lesson is a study of the 
first two parts of Paul's sermon. 

1. Read Acts 13:16-25. 

2. It should be remembered that in this, as in all the speeches and 

addresses of the book of Acts, Luke gives only an epitome of 
the words of the speakers. 

3. Verse 16: "Beckoning with the hand." Paul's gestures are sev- 

eral times alluded to: See Acts 21:40; 26:1. 

4. In what language did Paul deliver this address? 

5. In verse 16, who are those whom Paul designates as "y e that 

fear God"? 

6. Verses 16-25 contain a skilful abridgment of Jewish history from 

the call of Abraham to the ministry of John the Baptist. What 
sermons have you studied already that begin in the same way? 

7. Paul's sermon consists of four parts : 

I. A Historical Introduction — From Abraham to David. 

II. The Messiah is Jesus. 

III. The Death and Resurrection of Jesus. 

IV. Salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. 

8. The verses in to-day's lesson constitute the first two parts of 

Paul's sermon. Write the four heads of his sermon in your note- 
book and designate the verses that belong to each part. 

9. Mark Antioch (in Pisidia) with a cross on your outline map. 
Thought for To-day : The whole Old Testament looks forward 

to Jesus Christ ; the whole New Testament looks back upon Him. 
Yet the writers of the Old and New Testament do not spend their 
thought and effort alone in mere contemplation of His character 
and in mere worship of His glory; they both alike agree in pro- 
claiming that His salvation is for all men in every land. 






IX :5 Studies in the Life of St. Paul yi 

Study IX. — ^ligfistonfii in Cyprus;, JJerg;a, anfl |3istUiaE %Lntml) 

Fifth Day: Paul's Sermon at Antioch in Pisidia 
(Continued) 

To-day's lesson is the stud}' of the third part of Paul's sermon 
in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch. The topic is ''The Death and 
Resurrection of Jesus." 
i. Read Acts 13:26-37. 

2. As may be learned from verse 26, what two classes of people 

were in the synagogue congregation? 

3. Verse 27 : At what point in the synagogue services were the 

"prophets" read? See page 69, section 6. 

4. Verse 31: For how many days after His resurrection was Christ 

seen? Acts 1 13. 

5. Verse 33: What verse of the second Psalm is here quoted? 

6. Verse 35 : The quotation is taken from the sixteenth Psalm. 

Which verse? 

7. At the very center of the teaching of the apostles is the doctrine 

of the resurrection of Christ. Paul was converted six years 

after the resurrection of Christ ; he could, therefore, hear from 

the lips of eyewitnesses the story of Christ's liberation from the 

tomb; he was a well-trained, keen-witted Rabbi. It is not 

likely that any fabricated or false account would have imposed 

upon Paul. 

St. Paul on the Resurrection: "Now if Christ be preached 

that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there 

is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of 

the dead, then Christ is not risen : and if Christ be not risen, then 

is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we 

are found false witnesses of God ; because we have testified of God 

that he raised up Christ ; whom he raised not up, if so be that the 

dead rise not." — First Epistle to the Corinthians 15:12-15. 



72 Studies in the Life of St. Paul iX:6 

Study IX. — ffiigsitma in Cppnts;, JJerga, aafl JJimluan. &nttocl; 

Sixth Day: Paul's Sermon at Antioch in Pisidia 
(Continued) 

Paul sums up his argument with the statement that men are 
justified or brought into right relations with God, not by doing 
the works of the Jewish Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. In clos- 
ing, the apostle solemnly warns his hearers not to despise this offer 
of divine grace. 

1. Read Acts 13:38-43. 

2. Verse 39: This verse contains the germ of Paul's later preaching 

and teaching: Man had sought righteousness by obeying the 
precepts of the Mosaic Law ; but he could not, by mere con- 
formity to rules and laws, measure up to the standard required 
of him — he was too imperfect, too much inclined toward sin. 
Belief in Christ, and acceptance of His righteousness, would 
alone justify man — that is, make him righteous in the sight 
of God. 

3. Verse 41 : The quotation is from Habakkuk, chapter 1. Locate 

the verse. 

4. Verse 42 : Certain words of this verse, as given in the A.V., are 

not found in the best Greek manuscripts. In the R.V. the verse 
runs: "And as they went out, they besought that these words 
might be spoken to them the next Sabbath." 

5. Verse 43 : The "religious proselytes" were probably native Pisid- 

ians. 
Faith and the Law : "We who are Jews by nature, and not 
sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the 
works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have 
believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of 
Christ, and not by the works of the law : for by the works of the 
law shall no flesh be justified." — St. Paul, Epistle to the Galatians 
2:15 and 16. 



IX 7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 73 

Study IX. — f^ismxia in Cyprus, JJerga, anfc JJtsiiuan gtutiocl) 

Seventh Day: The Spread of the Gospel in Pisidia 

On the Sabbath following Paul's sermon in the synagogue at 
Antioch, a vast congregation of Gentiles gathered to hear the apos- 
tles. The Jews, since they had been unable to attract such multitudes 
to the synagogue, were filled with envy; they opposed the work of 
the apostles and sought, by blasphemous words, to overthrow their 
teaching. Thereupon the apostles turned to the Gentiles, and worked 
among them with such success that the whole region heard the 
Gospel. 

1. Read Acts 13:44-49. 

2. What statements of the apostles did the Jews contradict (verse 

45)? 

3. Verse 46: Why was it necessary that the Word of God should be 

preached to the Jews first? 

4. Verse 47: Locate this quotation, which may be found in Isaiah, 

chapter 49. 

5. Verse 48: The phrase, "As many as were ordained to eternal 

life," seems to mean, "as many as had disposed themselves 
toward eternal life." 

6. It does not seem that the stay of Paul and Barnabas in Antioch 

was long, yet such was their activity and such the spirit of 
their converts, that the whole region speedily heard the Gospel. 

7. Note the use of the word region in verse 49. It has a specific 

meaning here, and refers to that portion of the province of Gala- 
tia in which Antioch lay. In Acts 14:6 the Lycaonian region 
of Galatia is mentioned. 

8. Review questions : Since leaving Antioch on this missionary 

journey what cities has Paul visited? What important inci- 
dents have taken place in connection with his work in these 
cities ? 



74 Studies in the Life of St. Paul X:i 

Study X. — ^tssians in ^tamum, Oerfce, anfc Lpstca : CI)e 
Ectuni to ^Cntiocl) in ^>pria 

First Day: Paul and Barnabas Flee to Iconium 

So successful were Paul and Barnabas in their labors at Antioch 
that the unbelieving Jews were filled with envy and rage, and imme- 
diately undertook a vigorous persecution of the apostles. To escape 
this, Paul and Barnabas left Antioch and fled to Iconium, a city 
on the borders of Lycaonia. 
i. Read Acts 13 :50-52. 

2. Verse 50: "The devout women of honorable estate" (R.V.) were 

Gentile proselytes ; they were women of rank, the wives of 
the chief men of the city. The "chief men of the city" were 
probably the Roman authorities. How is it that the Jews were 
able to get the help of these men and women against the 
apostles ? 

3. In the verses of to-day's lesson the apostles obey three com- 

mands of Christ: 

(a) To flee from persecution: Matt. 10:23. 

(b) To shake off the dust of the feet in condemnation: Matt. 
10:14. 

(c) To rejoice in persecution: Matt. 5:11 and 12. 
Memory Passage: "We glory in tribulations also: knowing that 

tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and expe- 
rience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of 
God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given 
unto us." — St. Paul, Epistle to the Romans 5 13-$. 

Prayer: "Help us to realize, dear Lord, that our trials and 
troubles may be a means unto us for gaining strength of character; 
let us never be discouraged, but enable us to trust in Thee. Let 
our light affliction, which is but for a moment, work for us a far 
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Amen. 



X:2 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 75 

Study X. — ffiUsmns in Jcontttm, £)erbe, anB Lpertra: CI;e 

EUtttta to &nitoc!) in H>j>ria 

Second Day: The Gospel in Iconium : The Apostles 

Flee into Lycaonia. 

After their arrival at Iconium, Paul and Barnabas spoke with 
such effect in the synagogue of the city that a multitude of Jews 
and Greeks believed; but, just as at Antioch, the unbelieving Jews 
stirred up the Gentiles against the apostles. Paul and Barnabas 
then fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia. 

1. Read Acts 14:1-7. 

2. Locate Iconium, and mark it with a cross upon your outline map. 

3. Iconium was an important city on the borders of Lycaonia, near 

the great trade route stretching from Ephesus to the Euphrates. 
The situation of Iconium made it an especially desirable center 
for missionary work. 

4. Verse 2 : The unbelieving Jews stirred up such of the Gentiles 

as were favorably disposed to the worship of the synagogue, 
but who had not adopted the teachings of the apostles. 

5. Verse 4: The multitude of the city was divided into a Christian 

body and a non-Christian body. Of what saying of Christ's is 
this the fulfilment? See Luke 12:51-53. 

6. Locate Lystra and Derbe, and mark them with crosses on your 

outline map. 
Prayer: "O Lord, give us more charity, more self-denial, more 
likeness to Thee. Teach us to sacrifice our comforts to others, and 
our likings for the sake of doing good. Make us kindly in thought, 
gentle in word, generous in deed. Teach us that it is better to give 
than to receive ; better to forget ourselves than to put ourselves 
forward ; better to minister than to be ministered unto. And unto 
Thee, the God of Love, be glory and praise for ever." Amen. 



j6 Studies in the Life of St. Paul X:3 

Study X. — ^HtSfiitoitg in ^taninm, SDerbe, attt Lpstra : SDIje 
Eletttro to &ntiocf) in H>prta 

Third Day: Paul and Barnabas Regarded as Gods by 
the lycaonians 

At Lystra, Paul healed a cripple who had been lame from birth. 
This miracle so astonished the Lycaonians that they thought Paul 
and Barnabas were gods in the guise of men. 

1. Read Acts 14:8-13. 

2. Observe how minute and accurate are the words of Luke in 

describing the infirmity of the cripple. What was Luke's pro- 
fession ? 

3. Why did Paul think that the cripple had faith to be healed? 

4. Verse 11: The Lycaonians were apparently bi-lingual : they spoke 

both their native Lycaonian dialect and Greek. In their aston- 
ishment at Paul's miracle they lapse into their native tongue. 

In this region was laid the scene of the story of Philemon 
and Baucis, narrated by Ovid: Once on a time Jupiter and 
Mercury came down to earth disguised as travelers. They 
sought entertainment at several doors, but were turned away. 
Finally, in a humble cottage, an aged pair, Philemon and Bau- 
cis, from their scanty store set forth food before the wayfarers. 
At the conclusion of the meal the gods revealed themselves to 
the pious couple, and granted them long life as guardians of 
a holy temple. Perhaps the men of Lycaonia had this story 
in mind at this time. 
"In ancient art Jupiter was always represented as a tall, majestic 
and benignant figure, while Mercury was the small, swift messenger 
of the father of gods and men." From verse 12, therefore, what 
do you infer concerning the personal appearance of Barnabas and 
Paul? 



X:4 Studies in the Life of St. Paid J J 

Study X.— ^Htestons! in 3"coutttm, £>et&e, anti Lpstra: Cfje 

Eettttn to &nttod) in IsJpria 

Fourth Day: Paul and Barnabas Regarded as Gods 

by the lycaonians ( continued ) 

When the apostles heard that the men of L-ystra were about to 
offer sacrifice to them as gods, they rushed among them, and re- I 
strained them from carrying out their intention, 
i. Read Acts 14:14-18. 

2. Verses 15-17: These verses, in all probability, contain only a few 

of the things said by Paul and Barnabas at this time. 

3. In certain of these early addresses of Paul may be found the 

germs of many ideas which he afterward expanded more fully. 
With verse 16 compare Acts 17 130, a verse in a speech delivered 
by Paul at Athens. 

4. Verse 17: "He left not himself without witness"; that is, among 

the non- Jewish nations. To them He had spoken through the 
wonders of nature, sending them the fruits of the earth in their 
season. The thought of verse 17 Paul expands in his Epistle 
to the Romans. Read Romans 1:18-21. 

5. After the event narrated in the lessons of yesterday and to-day, 

Paul and Barnabas seem to have labored successfully in Lystra. 
Among the converts of Paul was the youthful Timothy, who 
afterward became his faithful companion and helper. That he was 
a convert of Paul's preaching seems clear from 1 Timothy 1 :2 ; 
that he was converted at this particular time seems likely from 
the fact that he is spoken of as being already a disciple at 
the time of Paul's second visit to Lystra: Acts 16:1. For 
Timothy's parentage, see Acts 16:1. 
Thought for To-day: With verse 17 of to-day's lesson compare 
Romans 2:4. Do these verses apply at all to you? 



78 Studies in the Life of St. Paul X:5 

Study X. — JEissionBi in Scontttm, IDerfie, antx Ipstra : Cf)e 
Eetttnt to ^Lnttoct) in ibprta 

Fifth Day : The Apostles Driven from Lystra : They 
Return to Pisidian Antioch 

For some time there was no opposition to the work of the apostles 
at Lystra. After a while, however, certain Jews came down from 
Antioch and Iconium, and stirred up a persecution against Paul 
and Barnabas. Paul was stoned. The apostles then left Lystra, 
and went to Derbe. Later they returned through Lystra and 
Iconium to Antioch in Pisidia. 

1. Read Acts 14:19-23. 

2. Verses 19 and 20: 

(a) The Lycaonians in ancient times bore the reputation of 
being fickle : Aristotle says they were "faithless." Hence 
they were easily induced to turn against the apostles. 

(b) Paul alludes to this stoning in one of his Epistles : See 
2 Cor. 11 -25. 

(c) Picture to yourself the scene: Paul bleeding and uncon- 
scious upon the ground, with the disciples standing sorrow- 
fully about him. 

(d) Perhaps Paul stayed overnight in the house of Timothy's 
parents. Do you suppose that Paul recalled at this time 
the stoning of Stephen? 

3. Verse 21 : The apostles seem to have spent some little time at 

Derbe. The return journey was probably made rapidly, per- 
haps even secretly, for fear of the Jews. 

4. Verse 23 : For a similar action, see Acts 13 13. For what purpose 

were elders ordained in every city? 
Prayer: "O holy and ever blessed Lord, teach us, we beseech 
Thee, to love one another, to exercise forbearance and forgiveness 
toward our enemies ; to recompense no man evil for evil, but to be 
merciful even as Thou, our Father in Heaven, art merciful; that so 
we may continually follow after Thee in all our doings, and be 
more and more conformed to Thine image and likeness." Amen. 



X:6 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 79 

Study X.— jHtssians in ^contttm, T)zvht, an* ipfitra : Cfre 
Eetttrn to &nttoc{) in J&pria 

Sixth Day: From Pisidian Antioch to Antioch in 

Syria 

The apostles returned from Antioch in Pisidia to Perga in Pam- 
phylia, then went overland to Attalia, whence they sailed for Antioch 
in Syria. On their arrival at home they gathered together the 
Church, and told them all that God had wrought through them. 

1. Read Acts 14:24-28. 

2. Did the apostles preach at Perga when in the city on their way 

inland? Mark Perga with a cross. 

3. When Paul and Barnabas came to Perga the first time they came 

from Cyprus on a vessel which ascended the Cestrus River 
as far as Perga. Now on the return journey they apparently 
fail to find at Perga a vessel bound for Syria, and so go over- 
land to Attalia, 16 miles distant, where they embark for Syria. 

4. The towns of Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe 

were all included in the Roman province of Galatia. To the 
churches of these towns Paul later addressed his Epistle to 
the Galatians. Certain peculiarities of the Galatians, and cer- 
tain features of Paul's visit among them, should be noted at this 
time. 

(a) The Galatians heard the Gospel readily, but were soon 
turned away by false teachers. See Galatians 1 :6. 

(b) This fickleness of the Galatian character has already been 
noticed in the case of the Lycaonians. See page 78, sec- 
tion 2 (a). 

(c) Paul was ill while in Galatia: Galatians 4:13 and 14. 

5. "God . . . had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" 

(verse 27, end). Perhaps Paul himself was the one who made 
use of the figure of speech, and Luke may be quoting him. Paul 
uses a similar expression in one of his letters : 1 Corinthians 
16:9. 

Memory Passage: Memorize the saying of Jesus found in John 
10:9. 



8o Studies in the Life of St. Paul X:7 

Study X. — fUxs&ims in Itanium, ©etbe, an* Lpfitra: SDIje 
Eeturn tc 9Lnttoc|) in H>2>ria 

Seventh Day: Review Lesson 

As stated in the lesson of yesterday, when the apostles had 
returned to Antioch in Syria, they called together the Church, and 
told the story of their successful missionary tour in Cyprus and 
Asia Minor. 

i. Without referring to your Bible or to these Studies, write in your 
note-book a list of the places visited by Paul on this first mis- 
sionary journey. 

2. What were the chief events in each town or city? 

3. What important doctrine does Paul state for the first time — a 

doctrine that became the very center of his preaching? 

4. What difficulties had Paul met in his efforts to spread the Gospel 

among the Gentiles? 

5. In the closing years of his life Paul still remembered this journey 

as one of great hardship. Read 2 Timothy 3:11. 

6. Some conclusions that Paul may have reached after his return 

from this first missionary tour: 

(a) The Jews were not unwilling to listen to the Gospel; but 
when it was proposed that the Gentiles should join the 
Christian Church without first becoming Jews, they re- 
belled. 

(b) The Gentiles were ready for the Gospel, and received it 
gladly. 

(c) The question of the relation of the Gentiles to the Mosaic 
Law was one that would have to be settled in the near 
future. 

(d) Paul must have begun to see that the Law had served its 
purpose in training the Jews, and was now a useless thing. 

Paul on the Work of the Law: "Before faith came, we were 
kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterward 
be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster, to bring 
us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that 
faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are 
all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. . . . There is neither 
Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male 
nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." — Epistle to the 
Calatians 3 .'23-28. 



XI: i Studies in the Life of St. Paul 81 

Study XL— 91 Crisis: ffivuit (Btntilt C&rtdtians J&eep t&e 

JHosaic lato ? 

First Day : Paul Goes to Jerusalem to Ask Freedom 

for the Gentiles. 

Thus far the opposition which Paul had met in the spread of the 
Gospel came from the unbelieving Jews and from Gentiles who 
had been stirred up by the Jews. Trouble now arose within the 
Church itself : certain Christian Jews came down from Jerusalem 
to Antioch and began to teach that the Gentiles in the Church must 
be circumcised and keep the Mosaic Law. Paul and Barnabas, with 
others, went to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the leaders 
of the Church, 
i. Read Acts 15:1-5. 

2. Verse 1 : The men from Judea were not officially sent, nor were 

they authorized to handle this matter. See Acts 15 124. 

3. The Jews felt that they were contaminated by contact with the 

Gentiles. The Gentiles did not purify themselves according to 
the ceremonial law ; they ate the flesh of swine and other food 
unclean from the Jewish point of view. Consequently the 
Jews were averse to sharing with them the Lord's Supper and 
associating with them socially. The one sign and test of a 
Jew was circumcision. This the Jewish extremists determined 
to force on Gentile Christians. 

4. Verse 3 : Had the Gospel been preached before this time in 

Phoenicia? See Acts 11:19. 

5. Verse 4 : On what points do you suppose that Paul and Barnabas 

would lay the most emphasis in this review of their work ? 

6. What were the beliefs and practices of the sect of the Pharisees? 
Paul the Champion of the Gentiles : Throughout his life Paul 

fought for the freedom of the Gentiles from the claims of the Jewish 
Law. His writings abound in powerful arguments on this matter. 
And to Paul, more than anyone else, is due the fact that the Chris- 
tian Church did not become a sect of Judaism. Paul settled the 
question forever: a few years after his death it ceased to be an 
issue. 



82 Studies in the Life of St. Faul xi -.2 

l mi. i n 111 i , 

Study XL— & Crisis;: f&wt (Btntilt dfyxi&timz Meep t&e 
jptogait Lato? 

Second Day: The Council at Jerusalem: Peter's 

Speech 

After some little time had been spent in private conference and 
informal discussion, the men from Antioch gathered together with 
the apostles and elders of the Jerusalem Church to debate the ques- 
tion that had arisen. After considerable discussion of a noisy char- 
acter, Peter spoke in favor of freedom for the Gentile Christians, 
and Barnabas and Paul told of the wonders God had wrought 
through them among the Gentiles, 
i. Read Acts 15 :6-i2. 

2. Verse 7: 

(a) To what event does Peter refer in this verse? 

(b) How long before this had the event taken place? 

3. Verses 8 and 9 : Has Peter used this argument at all before in 

the book of Acts? If so, where? 

4. Verse 10: What does Peter mean by the word "yoke"? Does 

he refer to the actual laws of Moses — the written law, or to 
the laws compiled and added by the scribes and Pharisees — the 
oral law? 

5. What did Jesus say about the oppression of the Law? See Matt. 

23 :2-4. 

6. The cases of conversion among the Gentiles which Paul and 

Barnabas gave were concrete examples of the principle laid 

down by Peter in verses 8 and 9. 
Salvation the Gift of God : The keynote of Peter's speech is 
salvation by the grace {or favor) of God. St. Paul's statement of 
this principle is in Ephesians 2 14-8 : "God, who is rich in mercy, for 
his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in 
sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace are ye saved) 
and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly 
places in Christ Jesus : that in the ages to come he might show the 
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through 
Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith." 



XI :s Studies in the Life of St. Paul 83 

Study XL — & Crusts : ^Rucit (Scuttle Christians fcerp t&e 
^ftosair Lato 1 

Third Day: The Council (Continued) : The Speech 

of James 

The course of the debate thus far may be summarized as follows : 
The Judaizing party had vehemently argued that the Gentiles should 
be circumcised and keep the Law ; Peter spoke next in behalf of the 
Gentiles, narrating how God through him had bestowed the Holy 
Spirit on the Gentile Cornelius and his family ; last of all, Paul and 
Barnabas told in detail the story of the conversion of the Gentiles in 
Asia Minor. 

Both sides of the question had now been presented. Thereupon 
James, the brother of Jesus, arose and proposed a fair and just 
compromise. 

1. Read Acts 15 113-21. 

2. Verse 13: James was the brother of Jesus and author of the 

Epistle that bears his name. "A sense of awe clung about him 
and all he said and did. Clothed with a mysterious and in- 
definable dignity as 'the brother of the Lord/ that dignity and 
mystery were enhanced by his bearing, dress, manner of life, 
and entire appearance. Tradition represents him as wearing no 
wool, but clothed in fine white linen from head to foot. It is 
said that he was so holy, and so highly esteemed by the whole 
Jewish people, that he alone was allowed, like the High Priest, 
to enter the Holy Place ; that he lived a celibate and ascetic life ; 
and that he spent long hours alone in the temple praying for 
the people." — Canon Farrar. 

3. James represents the conservative side of the council. After citing 

certain prophecies regarding the coming of the Gentiles to the 
Lord, he proposes a fair compromise. 

4. Upon certain commandments given to Noah, the Rabbis had built 

up the seven so-called "Noachian Laws." The four prohibitions 
of James in verse 20 embody three or possibly four of these 
laws. 

5. If Jews and Gentiles were to work and live harmoniously in the 

same Church it was necessary that they should grant one an- 
other certain concessions, and respect one another's feelings. 
Thought for the Day: What did Jesus say of those who, like 
James, were peacemakers? Matt. 5:9. 



84 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XI -.4 

Study XL— & Crisis: JHttst Gentile Christians Eeep t&e 

iHosaiciato? 

Fourth Day: The Decision of the Council 

The proposal made by James, that the Gentiles be asked to observe 
only four prohibitions underlying the Mosaic Law, was adopted. 
These prohibitions were embodied in a letter drawn up by the council 
and sent to the Gentiles of Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. 

1. Read Acts 15 122-29. 

2. Judas, surnamed Barsabas, of verse 22, is otherwise unknown. 

Silas, of the same verse, is the one who later was the com- 
panion of Paul upon his second missionary journey. 

3. It is evident that the letter was written in Greek: 

(a) The persons addressed were Gentiles. 

(b) The letter has the form usually followed by Greek writers : 
at the beginning the name of the writer; then that of the 
person addressed, followed by the body of the letter proper ; 
at the end a farewell salutation. 

4. This letter is one of the earliest epistles of the apostolic period. 

5. Verse 23 : When and by whom was the Cilician church founded ? 

6. The men who had begun the trouble at Antioch were unauthorized 

persons from Jerusalem. Judas and Silas, who now visit Anti- 
och, are fully empowered to state the views of the Jerusalem 
Church. 
']. Verse 25 : Observe the kind and affectionate manner in which 
Barnabas and Paul are here mentioned. Why does the name of 
Barnabas precede that of Paul? 
Thought for the Day: Especially noteworthy is the calm and 
conciliatory tone of the letter sent by the Jerusalem churches to the 
Gentiles of Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Memorize Proverbs 15:1. 



XI :5 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 85 

Study XI.— & Cttete : Jlttst Gentile Cfcrtettatus Eeep tjje 
;Ptoaaic lata ? 

Fifth Day : Paul's Own Account of the Council 

In his Epistle to the Galatians Paul himself gives an account of 
the council at Jerusalem. This account is peculiar in some respects. 
Certain Jewish teachers, enemies of Paul, had tampered with his 
Galatian converts. By representing that Paul was not truly an 
apostle because he had not seen and heard Jesus, they endeavored 
to undermine his authority. Paul indignantly answers their charges 
in his letter to the Galatians ; he says that he is an apostle "not of 
man, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father" 
(Gal. 1:1). He gives a brief account of his life, and in narrating 
the events of the Jerusalem council emphasizes the fact that he was 
independent of the other apostles. Consequently, since he is laying 
stress upon certain features only of the conference, his own account 
is somewhat different from that of Luke in the book of Acts. 

1. Read Galatians 2:1-10. 

2. Verse 1 : The "fourteen years" are fourteen years dating from 

the visit of Gal. 1 :i8. It was probably a little more than twelve 
years. See page 54, section 3. 

3. Verse 2: By comparing the first clause of this verse with Acts 

15 :2, it seems that not only was Paul chosen by the Church at 
Antioch to go to Jerusalem, but also he was advised in a vision 
to go thither. 

4. The private conference with the leaders mentioned in verse 2 

probably took place before the public council was held. By this 
means James, Peter, and John — the "pillars" of the Church — 
were won over (verse 9). 

5. Verse 10: This collection for the poor is not mentioned by Luke 

in Acts. Paul later gave much attention to the gathering of 
money for the poor at Jerusalem. 
Lesson Thought: What phase of Paul's character do you dis- 
cover in the lesson of to-day (Gal. 2:1-10) ? 



86 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XI :6 

Study XL— & Crisis : jPtesi (Gentile Christians fccoj t&e 
jPtusaw lato? 

Sixth Day: Paul Returns from Jerusalem to Anti- 
och : The Reading of an Apostolic Letter 

Paul and Barnabas, with the messengers sent by the Jerusalem 
Church, returned to Antioch. As soon as they arrived, they called 
together the believers and read to them the letter from Jerusalem. 

1. Read Acts 15*30-35. 

2. How many persons can you name among those composing the 

company that went from Jerusalem to Antioch? See Acts 15 :22 
and 32, also Galatians 2:1. 

3. Verse 31 : The scene, when this apostolic letter was read, is 

the forerunner of the scenes later when letters from Paul were 
read in the churches to which he had written. A letter ad- 
dressed to an individual church was often passed to other 
churches and read in them. See Colossians 4:16. 

4. Verse 31 : Both Jews and Gentiles would hear the letter read. 

What grounds had each party for "rejoicing for the conso- 
lation"? 
Paul returned from Jerusalem more than ever conscious of his 
power and clear in his purposes. "Paul had made himself master 
of the situation. He had come to the very forefront in the guidance 
of the Church. The future of Christianity rested with the Gentiles, 
and to the Gentiles the acts and writings of Paul were to be of 
greater importance than those of all the other apostles. His Apos- 
tolate had been decisively recognized. He had met Peter and John 
and even the awe-inspiring brother of the Lord in conference, and 
found himself so completely their equal in the gifts of the Holy 
Ghost, that it was impossible for them to resist his credentials. . . . 
He had returned from Jerusalem more than ever conscious o? him- 
self, conscious of his own power, clear in his future purposes. He 
inspired into the Church at Antioch his own convictions with a force 
that no one could resist." — Canon Farrar. 



XI 7 Studies in the Life of St. Paid 87 

Study XL — & Crisis: ;£Hust (Seattle Christians j&scp t&e 

^Ussaic Lata 7 

Seventh Day: Peter's Visit to Antioch 

Not long after the council at Jerusalem, Peter visited Antioch. 
While there he associated freely with Gentiles, and even ate with 
them. When, however, certain Jews came down from Jerusalem, Peter 
withdrew himself from the Gentiles. In like manner also some of 
the Antiochian Jews then separated themselves from the Gentiles, 
and even Barnabas was led to change his attitude toward the Gentile 
converts. This inconsistency Paul vigorously rebuked 

1. Read Galatians 2:11-16. 

2. Verse 12: 

(a) Where had Peter before this time eaten with Gentiles? 

(b) What was his defence when criticised on that occasion? 

(c) Why did he not at this time offer the same defence? 

(d) From the conduct of Peter as narrated in to-day's lesson 
it is clear that Peter had not entirely overcome his vacilla- 
tion. What examples of impulsiveness and vacillation in the 
character of Peter are given in the gospels? 

3. Verses 12 and 13 : These verses show how deep-seated were the 

prejudices of the Christian Jews against associating on an 
equality with Gentile converts. Barnabas, who had witnessed 
the reception of the Gospel among the Gentiles, was himself car- 
ried away by the influence of Jewish exclusiveness. In spite of 
the ruling of the council at Jerusalem, the Judaizing party 
within the Church was not silenced. This party constantly 
opposed the work of Paul ; again and again he met their argu- 
ments with keen and incisive logic. 

4. Verse 14: How do you account for the boldness of Paul in re- 

buking Peter? 

5. There was no violent break, as some think, in consequence of this 

occurrence at Antioch. Peter speaks affectionately of Paul in 

one of his letters. See 2 Peter 3:15. 
Thought for the Day : Are you, too, ever guilty of inconsistent 
conduct? Do you act and say one thing when among Christians and 
quite another thing when among those who are not Christians ? Are 
you ready to blame Peter for his action, but slow to condemn your- 
self for equal inconsistency? 



PART V 

Paul's Second Missionary Journey 

Study XII. — From Antioch to Philippi 
Study XIII. — From Philippi to Athens 
Study XIV. — From Athens to Antioch 



XII n Studies in the Life of St. Paul 91 

Study XI L— jFrom Stntioef) to f31)tltppi 
First Day: Paul and Silas Go Through Syria and 

Cilicia 

After no long stay in Antioch Paul started out on his second mis- 
sionary journey. On this tour Silas, instead of Barnabas, accom- 
panied him. Leaving the city of Antioch, Paul and Silas passed 
through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. 

1. Read Acts 15 -.36-41. 

2. How much time is indicated by the "some days after" of verse 36? 

A short or long space of time? See page 51, section 5. 

3. What relationship existed between Barnabas and John Mark? 

Colossians 4:10. 

4. Why did John Mark leave them in Pamphylia? See page 69, 

section 4. 

5. In verse 39, the word "contention" (or "sharp contention," R.V.) 

is the translation of the Greek word 7tccpo£,v(5pid$ (paroxysmos), 
which appears in English in the word paroxysm. It indicates a 
sharp contention which soon subsides. We should not think 
that after this event Paul and Barnabas were estranged from 
each other. In his First Epistle to the Corinthians, written four 
or five years after the date of to-day's lession, Paul speaks of 
Barnabas on terms of perfect equality with himself. 

6. As a result of this contention between Paul and Barnabas two 

pairs of missionaries, instead of one, went out to preach. The 
event seems not to have been without its influence upon Mark, 
for Paul subsequently found him a valuable helper. See 2 
Timothy 4 :n. 

7. (a) W T hen were the churches of Syria founded? 

(b) When and by whom were the churches of Cilicia founded? 

(c) Have you marked any city in Cilicia with a cross on your 
map? 

Thought for To-day : We may honestly differ from one another 
on matters of policy, and even on questions of morals and religion, 
but we should never let our differences embitter us. By working 
from different points of view toward the same end, men contribute 
more richly to the final result. 



92 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XII :2 

Study XII. — iFrom Stntiocf) to JWtppi 
Second Day: Paul at Derbe and Lystra 

From Cilicia, Paul and Silas passed into Lycaonia, to the towns 
of Derbe and Lystra. At Lystra Paul found Timothy, whom he 
took with him on leaving that city. Paul, Silas, and Timothy then 
journeyed through the neighboring cities, delivering the decree voted 
by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 

1. Read Acts 16:1-5. 

2. What inference do you draw from verse 2? 

3. Construct a picture of the home life of Timothy from the fol- 

lowing verses found in one of Paul's letters : 

(a) 2 Timothy 3:15. 

(b) 2 Timothy 1 :5. 

4. Verse 3 : Timothy, although his father was a Greek, would be 

considered a Jew because he was the son of a Jewish mother. 
Timothy, however, had never been circumcised, and as an un- 
circumcised Jew was particularly unacceptable to other Jews, 
Paul circumcised him. This would make no difference to the 
Gentiles, and would not infringe upon the spirit of the Jeru- 
salem decree, since that decree applied only to Gentiles. 

5. To what influences do you ascribe the growth in faith and in- 

crease in numbers of the churches mentioned in verse 5? 
Thought for the Day: It is a great thing to know when to 
yield to the opinion of others. Paul, in the circumcision of Timothy, 
without surrendering any of his principles, yielded to the prejudices 
of the Jews. Similarly we, whenever possible, should be willing, for 
the sake of peace and for the extension of the kingdom of God, to 
concede something to others, provided, of course, we do not give 
up any of our moral principles. When we stand out against others 
we should be sure that we do so from principle and not from pride. 



XII :3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 93 

Study XII. — from &ntioc|) to $!)iltppi 

Third Day : Paul Has a Vision : He Goes over into 

Macedonia 

In the providence of God the time had now come for the spread 
of the Gospel in Europe. Paul and his helpers, after preaching in 
the cities of Lycaonia, traveled through Phrygia and Galatia. When 
they reached Troas in northwest Asia Minor, Paul had a vision in 
which a man of Macedonia begged him to come over into Macedonia. 
At once Paul crossed from Asia into Europe, and came to the im- 
portant city of Philippi. 

1. Read Acts 16:6-12. 

2. Verse 6 : The word Asia in the New Testament is used always as 

the name of the Roman province of Asia — a district including 
the greater part of western Asia Minor. For its extent, see 
map, page 64. 

3. Verses 6-8: The route of Paul is given clearly by Ramsay as 

follows : "Paul and his companions made a progress through 
the Phrygian Region of the province of Galatia, and then crossed 
the frontier of the province of Asia; but here they were pre- 
vented from preaching, and the prohibition was made absolute 
for the entire province. They therefore kept to the north across 
Asian Phrygia with the intention of entering the adjoining 
Roman province, Bithynia ; but when they came opposite Mysia 
and were attempting to go out of Asia into Bithynia, the spirit 
of Jesus suffered them not. They therefore kept on towards 
the west through Mysia, without preaching in it (as it was part 
of Asia) until they came out on its western coast at the great 
harbour of Troas." 

4. Mark Galatian Phrygia with a cross on your outline map. 

5. Verse 10: From the "we" of this verse it is inferred that Luke, 

the writer of Acts, joined Paul's party at Troas. 

6. Troas was on the coast of Mysia, not far from Ilium, the scene 

of the Trojan war. 
Thought for the Day : From verses 6, 7, and 10 of to-day's les- 
son, it is clear that the apostles gave themselves up completely to 
the sway of the Holy Spirit. Are you willing to be so guided and 
directed for useful service? 



94 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XII 14 

Study XII. — jFrom Untied; to $3{rilippi 

Fourth Day : The Gospel in Philippi 

The first converts in Philippi were women. One of these, Lydia 
by name, hospitably opened her home to Paul and his company. 

1. Read Acts 16:12-15. 

2. Philippi was an important city of Macedonia, situated about ten 

miles from the sea. Augustus made it a "colony" after his 
victory over Brutus and Cassius in 42 B.C. Its inhabitants 
had Roman citizenship, they could vote in the Roman tribes, 
they had their own senate and magistrates, and used the Roman 
law and language. 

3. Mark Philippi with a cross upon your outline map. 

4. Apparently there was no synagogue in Philippi. The Jewish 

women met outside the city for prayer upon the banks of the 
Gangites. There they were free from interruption, and could 
use the waters of the river in their ablutions. 

5. Where was the city of Thyatira? What importance did this city 

have in the Church at a later time? 

6. Verse 14 : Paul's first convert in Europe was a woman. Lydia 

was doubtless a proselyte, and so was found among the Jewish 
women who worshipped by the river-side; that she was a 
woman of means is clear from the fact that she was able to 
take Paul and his helpers into her house. 

7. How many persons can you name who accompanied Paul at this 

time, and who are included in the pronoun "us" of verse 15? 

8. Christianity brought a more honorable position to women than 

they had had, and gave them greater freedom. 
"This is the first example of that family religion to which Paul 
so often refers in his Epistles. First came the faith of Lydia, then 
her leading all around her to Christ, then their baptismal confession, 
then her love evidenced in pressing hospitality, finally her receiving 
into her house Paul and Silas after their discharge from prison ; 
she was not 'ashamed of the Lord's prisoners, but was a partaker of 
the afflictions of the gospel.' " 



XII :5 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 95 

Study XII. — Jrcm &ittiod) to JJ!)Uippi 

Fifth Day: Paul Casts Out an Evil Spirit: Paul 

and Silas Are Imprisoned 

One day while in Philippi, Paul cast an evil spirit out of a girl 
who practiced soothsaying. When her masters saw that they could 
no longer make money from her soothsaying, they brought Paul 
and Silas into court, stirred up a mob against them, and had them 
beaten and imprisoned. 

1. Read Acts 16:16-24. 

2. It is impossible to determine with what species of mental or 

spiritual trouble the girl was afflicted. Luke, an intelligent and 
educated man, calls it "a spirit of divination." 

3. Verse 18: Why was Paul grieved at the words of the girl? Was 

not her statement a true one? 

4. Verse 20: The "magistrates" were the two Roman praetors. 

5. From verses 20 and 21 it would seem that the masters of the 

girl were Greeks. They were anxious to impress upon the 
Roman judge their loyalty to Roman rule, in order to gain 
his influence against Paul and Silas. 

6. Verse 22 : It was always easy at that time to stir up a mob against 

the Jews, just as is also the case nowadays in some countries. 

7. In verse 22 the R.V. reads: "commanded to beat them with 

rods." These were the rods of the Roman lictors. Paul alludes 
to this beating in 2 Corinthians 11 12$. 

8. Paul was a Roman citizen, and should not have been beaten before 

his condemnation. The question therefore arises why he did not 
appeal to his rights as a Roman citizen. The following reasons 
may be given : 

(a) The trial, which seems to have been incomplete and ir- 
regular, may have been carried on in Latin, and of this 
language Paul and Silas may have been ignorant. 

(b) Roman praetors were sometimes cruel and merciless. 
Cicero tells how Verres, a Roman governor in Sicily, 
scourged a Roman citizen, though in the midst of his agony 
he kept exclaiming: "Civis Romanus sum'''' ("I am a 
Roman citizen.") 

Thought for the Day: The masters of the girl out of whom 
the spirit of divination was cast prosecuted Paul because of their love 
of money. What does Paul say about the love of money ? See 1 
Timothy 6:9 and 10. 



96 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XII -.6 

Study XII— JFrom gttttoc!) to JJInltppt 

Sixth Day : Conversion of the Jailer and His Family 

Paul and Silas were unable to sleep in the jail at Philippi; they 
were fastened in stocks which allowed them no change of position, 
and their backs were sore and bleeding from the cruel beating they 
had suffered. To while away the hours of the night they prayed and 
sang hymns; an earthquake opened the prison doors, and the jailer 
and his family were converted through the exhortation of the 
apostles. 

1. Read Acts 16:25-34. 

2. Verse 25 : "The prisoners were listening to them." The Greek 

verb here translated, "listening," is not the common one for 
"hearing." It denotes careful hearkening. In what language 
did Paul and Silas sing? 

3. Paul in certain of his letters urges the Christians to sing: see 

Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16. 

4. Earthquakes are frequent in Greece. An earthquake shock might 

easily unhinge doors, and release prisoners chained to walls. 

5. Verse 27: Why was the jailer about to kill himself? 

6. What causes led the jailer to ask the question, "What must I do 

to be saved"? Did he assign the extraordinary events of the 
night to the influence of Paul and Silas ? Do you think that he 
knew anything about Paul's preaching? 

7. Read again slowly the lesson of to-day, Acts 16:25-34, and let 

your imagination picture to you the whole scene. 

Memory Verse: Read and memorize Acts 4:12. 

Prayer: "O God, let the sighing of the prisoner come before 
Thee, and mercifully grant unto us that we may be delivered by 
Thine almighty power from all bonds and chains of sin whether 
in our bodies or in our souls, through Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen. 



XII 7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 97 

Study XII.— JFrom &nttocf) to JJ&tUppi 
Seventh Day : The Release of Paul and Silas 

On the morrow after the imprisonment of Paul and Silas, the 
magistrates, learning that they were Roman citizens, came to the 
prison and besought them to leave the city. Paul and Silas entered 
into the house of Lydia, greeted the brethren, and then departed 
from Philippi. 
i. Read Acts 16:35-40. 

2. The word "sergeants" (verse 35) is the translation of a Greek 

word which means "rod-bearers" or "lictors." These lictors 
were the attendants of the praetors. 

3. Verse 38: Why did the magistrates fear? What had they done 

that was illegal? 

4. From verses 37 and 38 it is clear that Silas, like Paul, was a 

Roman citizen. 

5. Luke does not use the pronoun "we" in verse 40, nor does it 

appear again until Acts 20:6. From these two passages it is 
inferred that Luke remained in Philippi, or in that region at 
least, until Paul came again on his way to Jerusalem during 
his third missionary journey. 

6. The Church at Philippi was always especially fond of Paul. On 

four different occasions they sent him gifts for his support: 
Philippians 4:10 and 4:16; 2 Corinthians 11:9. 

7. Read rapidly in review the introductory paragraphs of each lesson 

in this week's work (Study XII). 
"Thus the first chapter of the work to which the Lord had called 
them by a vision came to an end. Thus far it had been a work 
of peculiar suffering and of apparently small fruitage. But the 
future was to give abundant proof that their coming to Philippi had 
indeed been of the Lord." — Gilbert. 



98 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XIII :i 

Study XIII. — Jrctn |3I;iItppi to &tljena 
First Day: Paul Preaches in Thessalonica 

From Philippi Paul and his companions journeyed westward until 
they came to Thessalonica, the capital of the Roman province of 
Macedonia. Here Paul's labors were very successful. His con- 
verts seem to have been Gentiles chiefly. 

1. Read Acts 17:1-4. 

2. For the route of Paul through Philippi, through Amphipolis and 

Apollonia, see the map, page 64. Mark both Amphipolis and 
Apollonia on your outline map with crosses. 

3. The Ignatian Way (Via Ignatia) ran from Philippi through Am- 

phipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica. Over this road Paul 
journeyed. 

4. Thessalonica was situated on the Thermaic Gulf. Its harbor and 

its position on the Ignatian Way gave it great advantages in 
commerce; it was the administrative center, or capital, of the 
Roman province of Macedonia, and contained a large Jewish 
population. 

5. Verse 2 : For Paul's practice of preaching first in the synagogues 

of the Jews, see Acts 13:5 and 14; and 14:1. 

6. From verse 4 may be learned an important fact : In many cities 

Greeks of the upper class were accustomed to attend the ser- 
vices of the synagogue, attracted thither, doubtless, by the sim- 
plicity and earnestness of the worship as compared with the 
rites of the heathen temples. The "devout Greeks" were prob- 
ably proselytes. 

7. More Greeks than Jews seem to have been converted (verse 4). 

This is clear also from one of Paul's letters : see 1 Thessalon- 
ians 1 :q and 2:14. 

8. Mark Thessalonica with a cross upon your outline map. 

"The synagogue audience [in Thessalonica] was mainly composed 
of Jews, and of these some were converted and joined the Church. 
. . . A larger number, however, of proselytes and of Greeks 
accepted the faith, and not a few women, of whom some were in a 
leading position. The inveterate obstinacy of the Jews, contrasting 
sadly with the ready conversion of the Gentiles, is a phenomenon 
which constantly recurs in the early history of Christianity. The 
Jew was at least in the possession of a religion which had raised him 
to a height of moral superiority above his Gentile contemporaries; 
but the Gentile of this day had no religion at all worth speaking 
of." — Canon Farrar. 



XIII :2 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 99 

Study XIII. — iFrom {Jljtltppi to gtljene; 
Second Day: Paul Preaches in Thessalonica (Con- 
tinued) 

Paul, in a letter to the Thessalonians written not long after this 
time, gives an account of the manner in which he worked and 
preached while among them. The details are interesting because 
from them it can be learned how Paul conducted himself in Gentile 
cities during his missionary tours. 

1. Paul supported himself by working at his trade. See 1 Thes- 

salonians 2:9. What was his trade? 

2. "One of the staple manufactures of the city was and is goat's-hair 

cloth. The sound that follows the ear as one walks through 
the streets of Saloniki (Thessalonica) to-day is the wheezing 
and straining vibration of the loom and the pendulum-like click 
of the regular and ceaseless shuttle." 

3. Yet Paul's labor seems not to have produced enough for his sup- 

port: See Philippians 4:16. 

4. Paul taught that men should support themselves by honest labor: 

2 Thessalonians 3:7-10. 

5. His preaching was sincere; his aim was unselfish; he sought to 

please God rather than man: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8. 

6. His preaching was effectual : 1 Thess. 1 :5 and 6. 

Lesson Thought: Paul's two letters to the Thessalonians, which 
will be studied later, enable us to learn not a little concerning the 
advice and instruction which he gave his Gentile converts. In par- 
ticular, three verses in First Thessalonians seem to sum up the cheer- 
ful, positive, and helpful exhortation of the apostle : Memorize 1 
Thess. 5:16-18. 

LOFC 



ioo Studies in the Life of St. Paul XIII :3 

Study XIIL— jFnmt flniippt to &tl)end 

Third Day : The Unbelieving Jews Stir Up a Mob 

The unbelieving Jews of Thessalonica, angered because Paul, after 
a few weeks of preaching, had been more successful than they in 
making converts among the Gentiles, gathered a mob and assaulted 
the house of Jason, Paul's host. Jason was taken before the magis- 
trates, but was later released on bail. 

1. Read Acts 17:5-9. 

2. Verse 5 : What do you infer from this verse regarding the in- 

fluence of the Jews in the city of Thessalonica? 

3. The "rulers of the city" were the seven politarchs. 

4. From verse 6 it is apparent that news of the spread of the Gospel 

in other parts of the Roman world had reached Thessalonica. 

5. Verses 6 and 7 : Do you think that the men composing this mob 

were sincere in their zeal for the authority of Caesar? 

6. Who was the Caesar, or Roman Emperor, at this time? For the 

date of these events see the chronological outline, page xi. 

7. Thessalonica, though a free city, was subject to the Roman Em- 

peror. Why were the rulers of the city troubled? Had any- 
thing unlawful been done? 

8. For the fear which the authorities of Greek towns had of the 

Roman government, see the words of the town clerk of Ephe- 
sus after a riot like this one had taken place at Ephesus : Acts 
19 :35-40. 
"The success of Paul in Thessalonica, though his work was 
broken off by persecution, was very great. The Thessalonians re- 
ceived his word as the word of God and rejoiced in the midst of 
afflictions. They soon became an example to all believers in the 
provinces of Macedonia and Achaia, and their Christian life was 
everywhere known (see I Thess. 1:6-8). Paul was tenderly at- 
tached to them, and esteemed them as his joy and crown of glory- 
ing (Thess. 2:19 and 20)." — Gilbert. 



XIII :4 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 101 

Study XIIL— jFrom J)I)iIijppi to &t&etifii 
Fourth Day : Paul Goes to Berea : Flees Thence to 

Athens 

The danger of injury to the apostle Paul was so great that the 
Christians of Thessalonica sent him off by night to Berea. At Berea 
Faul preached the Gospel with marked success. Learning of this, 
the Jews of Thessalonica came to Berea and stirred up the people. 
Thereupon the disciples of Berea sent Paul away to Athens. Timothy 
and Silas remained at Berea. 
i. Read Acts 17:10-15. 

2. Locate Berea and mark it with a cross. 

3. What reason do you assign for the receptive attitude of the 

Bereans ? 

4. In verse 12 who are designated by the words "many of them"? 

Who are the honorable women? See Acts 13:50 and the note 
on that verse, page 74, section 2. 

5. Verse 14: The reading of the R.V. is to be preferred here: "the 

brethren sent forth Paul to go as far as the sea." 

6. Berea was the last town of Macedonia in which Paul preached 

on this tour. While in Macedonia he had preached in Philippi, 
Thessalonica, and Berea; whether he visited other towns can- 
not be known. r His work influenced the entire province; for 
shortly after this he wrote to the Thessalonians that the Gospel 
was known throughout all Macedonia : See 1 Thess. 1 :8. 

7. Athens in the days of St. Paul had no great political importance, 

for Corinth was the Roman capital of Achaia. But Athens 
was still the intellectual center of Greece ; its schools of phil- 
osophy were famous; it had beautiful temples adorned with 
precious works of art; the traditions of its ancient greatness 
were still powerful, and to it the world turned for culture and 
polish. 
Two schools of philosophy, mentioned in the New Testament, 
were prominent at Athens at this time — the Epicurean and the 
Stoic. The Epicureans believed that the highest good was pleasure; 
not sensual pleasure, but rather a state in which the mind was free 
from care and the body from pain. The Stoics held that the 
highest good was virtue. Virtue depended upon knowledge, and 
knowledge could come only through the senses. Man's life was 
bound up with the universe. He must bring himself into harmony 
with the universe; he must suffer proudly and in silence. 



102 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XIII 15 

Study XIII. — Jrom JJIrilippt to &tf)ensi 

Fifth Day : Paul's Labors at Athens 

Timothy soon joined Paul at Athens, but Paul, anxious for the 
welfare of the Thessalonian Church, sent him to Thessalonica. Silas 
probably still remained at Berea. While waiting for them to rejoin 
him, Paul was moved by the idolatry of Athens, and began to preach 
in the synagogue and teach in the market-place (agora). Certain 
of the philosophers of the city took him to the Areopagus (Hill of 
Ares), and asked him to explain more fully the strange doctrines 
he was teaching. 

1. Paul at this time greatly wished to visit Thessalonica: See 1 

Thess. 2:17 and 18. Timothy, on coming to Athens, was dis- 
patched to Thessalonica: 1 Thess. 3:1-5. 

2. Read Acts 17:16-21. 

3. Verse 16, Revised Version: "Now, while Paul waited for them 

at Athens his spirit was provoked within him, as he beheld the 
city full of idols." Pausanias, a Greek traveler not long after 
Paul's time, says that there were more statues in Athens than 
in all the rest of Greece together. A Roman writer says, in 
referring to the statues in Athens, that it was easier to meet 
a god than a man. 

4. Verse 17: How would the arguments differ which Paul used in 

the synagogue and in the market-place? 

5. The Epicureans believed that the gods did not care for the 

world, but dwelt apart in perfect happiness. The Stoics held 
that God had produced the universe and that it would some day 
be absorbed by Him. What were some of the other beliefs of the 
Epicureans and the Stoics? 

6. "Babbler" (verse 18) is the imperfect translation of a Greek 

word which means "seed-gatherer." It may have been a slang 
term used at Athens to designate those who picked up scraps of 
knowledge. 

7. The Areopagus (Hill of Ares, or Mars Hill) was a small hill west 

of the Acropolis. On this hill the Court of the Areopagus used 
to meet. In full view were the splendid buildings of the 
Acropolis and of the city. 
A love of knowledge for its own sake was a marked character- 
istic of the Greeks : See 1 Corinthians 1 :22. The Athenians were 
especially noted for their busy intellectual curiosity and for an in- 
veterate desire to talk, dispute, and argue. 



XIII :6 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 103 

Study XIII. — iFnmi {Jfcilippi to Qfyzrui 

Sixth Day : Paul's Sermon on the Areopagus 

Standing on the Areopagus, with the splendid statues, shrines, and 
temples of the city in full view, surrounded by an audience com- 
posed of Epicureans, Stoics, and idlers of the market-place, St. Paul 
preached the sermon contained in Acts 17:22-31. 

1. Read Acts 17:22-28. 

2. In verse 22 the Greek word rendered in the A.V. "too super- 

stitious," and in the R.V. "somewhat superstitious," means 
rather: "unusually religious." Paul was a tactful man, and 
would naturally begin by conciliating his audience. 

3. Verse 23: The R.V. has "the objects of your worship" for "your 

devotions" of the A.V. 

4. The inscription was to an unknown god or to unknown god. 

Greek writers tell of altars at Athens dedicated to gods un- 
known. Probably the Athenians, in their desire to please the 
deities, had erected them on spots where strange or supernatural 
events had taken place. 

5. Verse 24 : Is there any reason why Paul should allude to temples 

in this verse? 

6. The Greeks called all non-Greeks "barbarians," and regarded them 

as ignorant and uncivilized. But Paul in verse 26 preaches the 
brotherhood of man. 

7. The quotation "For we are his offspring" is found in the writ- 

ings of Aratus of Soli (in Cilicia), who flourished about 275 
B.C. The same words are also found in the poems of Cleanthes, 
who was a native of Assos in Asia Minor. He lived in the 
third century B.C. When did Paul become acquainted with 
the Greek poets? 
Thought for the Day: The introduction of Paul's address is 
marked by great tact and courtesy. He does not rebuke them 
sharply for their idolatry, nor call them to account sternly for their 
neglect of duty. He begins by saying that the Athenians are un- 
usually religious : they even erect an altar to an unknown god so 
as to include all divinities; he then declares the unknown God to 
be the Lord of Heaven, who created all men to love and serve Him. 
Men are His children, even as the Greek poets have said. 



104 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XIII 7 

Study XIII. — jFrom |)&iUppt to &ibm& 

Seventh Day: Paul's Sermon on the Areopagus 

(Continued) 

By means of his tactful introduction, Paul conciliated his audi- 
ence and gained their attention. He then went on to preach Jesus 
and the Resurrection. When he mentioned the resurrection of the 
dead, the Athenians mocked at him; nevertheless, a few of them 
believed and were converted. 

1. Read Acts 17:29-34. 

2. State in your own words, supplying any missing sentences, the 

argument of verse 29. 

3. Why did the doctrine of the resurrection prove to be unacceptable 

to the Athenians? 

4. Paul's work in Athens was not altogether a failure. Dionysius, the 

Areopagite, must have been a man of influence, since members 
of the Court of the Areopagus were at least sixty years of 
age, and had filled important offices of the city. Tradition says 
that Dionysius was the first bishop of Athens. Of Damaris 
nothing is known. 

5. The Athenians were too exclusive, too frivolous, and too much 

wrapped up in their own conceits to readily embrace the Gos- 
pel. It is not recorded that* Paul ever visited them again. No 
Epistle to the Athenians is even mentioned. Paul may have 
had the Athenians in mind when he wrote: "Be not wise in 
your own conceits." (Romans 12:16.) 

6. Mark Athens with a cross on your outline map. 

Lesson Thought : "For the word of the cross, to those in the way 
of perdition, is folly; but to us in the way of salvation, it is the 
power of God. And so it is written, / will destroy the wisdom of the 
wise, and bring to nothing the understanding^ the prudent. Where 
is the Philosopher? Where is the Rabbi? Where is the reason of 
this world? Has not God turned the world's wisdom into folly? 
for when the world had failed to gain by its wisdom the knowledge 
of God in the wisdom of God, it pleased God, by the folly of our 
preaching, to save those who believe." — St. Paul, First Corinthians 
15:18-21 (Conybeare and Howson's translation). 



XIV :i Studies in the Life of St. Paul 105 

Study XIV.— JFrom &t&ens; to &nttoc!) 
First Day: Paul Goes to Corinth and Labors Among 
the Jews 

Discouraged by the unfavorable reception that the Gospel had 
met with in Athens, Paul left that city and came to Corinth. He made 
his home with Aquila and Priscilla, who were tent-makers by occu- 
pation. While waiting for Timothy and Silas to come from Mace- 
donia, Paul taught in the synagogue every Sabbath, preaching to 
Jews and to Greek proselytes. 

1. Read Acts 18:1-4. 

2. The Romans had divided all Greece into two provinces — Mace- 

donia and Achaia. The capital of Macedonia was Thessalonica, 
the capital of Achaia was Corinth. 

3. Corinth was situated on the isthmus connecting Central Greece 

and the Peloponnesus. Its location made it a city of great 
commercial importance; its wealth and its cosmopolitan popu- 
lation led to a lax state of morals; the worship of Aphrodite 
(Venus) was carried on with gross immorality. 

4. Aquila and Priscilla were Roman Jews. What do the names 

Aquila and Priscilla mean? 

5. Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome some time between 50 and 

52 a.d. The Roman historian Suetonius says that this was 
done on account of Jewish tumults instigated by a person named 
Chrestus (i. e., Christus or Christ). From this testimony it is 
clear that the Jewish Christians in Rome had been attacked by 
their unbelieving brethren. 

6. Paul apparently could not earn enough at this time for his sup- 

port: See 2 Cor. 11:9. 

7. Mark Corinth with a cross upon your outline map. 

The Scenes of Corinth : How deeply Paul was affected by the 
scenes of the city of Corinth may be seen in the Corinthian Epistles. 
His illustrations are those chiefly drawn from the Gentile customs — 
the lovely stadium, in which he had looked with sympathy on the 
grace and swiftness of many a youthful athlete (1 Cor. 9:24) ; the 
boxing-matches (1 Cor. 9:26 and 27); the insulting vanity of a 
Roman triumph (2 Cor. 2:14-16) ; the long hair of effeminate dandies 
(1 Cor. 11:14) ; the shows of the theater (1 Cor. 4:9) ; the fading 
garland oi Isthmian pine (1 Cor. 9:25). — Adapted from Canon 
Farrar. 



lo6 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XIV :2 

Study XIV. — jFrom &t|)ens to &nttoc|) 
Second Day: Paul's First Epistle to the Thessalo- 

NIANS 

While Paul was working among the Jews and proselytes in Cor- 
inth, Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia. Timothy brought 
Paul cheering news of the Church at Thessalonica. Thereupon Paul 
wrote his First Epistle to the Thessalonians. 
i. Read i Thessalonians 3:6 and 7, and Acts 18:5. 

2. Acts 15 :5 : "Paul was constrained by the word" (R.V.) ; that is, 

he felt impelled more than ever to preach the Gospel. He had 
cheering news from the Thessalonian Church, he had the pres- 
ence and sympathy of Silas and Timothy, and he was relieved 
of the necessity of constant labor. 

3. On learning of the faith and good works of the Thessalonians 

and of their patience under persecution, Paul wrote the letter 
known as First Thessalonians. It was addressed to all the dis- 
ciples at Thessalonica. This letter shows the affection of St. 
Paul for his converts, his great desire to> see them, his sym- 
pathy with them in their sufferings, and his fervent wish that 
they might have rich spiritual gifts. 

4. Read First Thessalonians. Even if read slowly, less than ten 

minutes will be required for the entire Epistle. 

5. From this letter much can be learned concerning the Thessalonian 

Church : 

(a) Was the Church composed chiefly of Jews or of Gentiles? 

(b) What was the influence of the Church? 

(c) What sufferings had befallen them? 

(d) They were anxious about the second coming of Christ. 
What does Paul say about this second coming? 

The Second Coming: Many of the early Christians believed that 
Christ would return to earth with power and glory in their own 
generation ; little by little they came to see that the prophetic words 
as to His return referred rather to the passing away of the Jewish 
dispensation and the gradual growth of the Kingdom of God — the 
beginning of the last great period in God's dealings with man. 



XIV :3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 107 

Study XIV. — JFrom &t&en£i ta &Etiod) 
Third Day: Paul Labors Among the Gentiles at 

Corinth 

Strengthened and helped by the presence of Silas and Timothy, 
Paul preached among the Jews of Corinth with great power. When 
some of the unbelieving Jews opposed him, and blasphemed the Gos- 
pel, Paul abandoned his work among his fellow-countrymen, and 
turned to the Gentiles. No slight danger seems to have threatened 
Paul at this time, for the Lord appeared to him in a vision, and 
bade him banish his fear of injury. 

1. Read Acts 18:5-11. 

2. Paul's first converts at Corinth: 1 Corinthians 16:15; Acts 18:8. 

These first converts Paul himself baptized: 1 Cor. 1 :i4-i6; many 
of the Corinthian converts were of humble rank : 1 Cor. 1 '.26. 

3. Paul's gospel: At Athens Paul had spoken to please his Athen- 

ian audience, touching on the philosophy of religion and quoting 
the Greek poets; at Corinth he determined to preach in a more 
direct manner: See 1 Cor. 2:1-4, and 1 Cor. 1:17 and 18. 

4. Paul's depression of mind while at Corinth: See 1 Cor. 2:3. 

5. Paul's reassuring vision : Acts 18 :g and 10. Why was this vision 

sent Paul? A literal translation of the latter part of verse 9 
would be : "Keep on speaking, do not be silent for a minute." 

6. The "year and six months" of verse 11 probably fell within the 

years 52 to 54 a.d. 

"How sweetly flowed the Gospel's sound 
From lips of gentleness and grace, 
While listening thousands gathered round, 
And joy and gladness filled the place! 

"Come, wanderers, to my Father's home; 

Come, all ye weary ones, and rest. 
.Yes, sacred Teacher, we will come, 

Obey Thee, love Thee, and be blest." 

— John Bo wring. 



io8 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XIV :4 

Study XIV. — Jrom Sltljenfii to &ntiac{) 
Fourth Day: Paul's Second Epistle to the Thessa- 
lonians 

In his First Epistle to the Thessalonians Paul had spoken of the 
second coming of Christ as near at hand. Influenced by this, some 
of the Thessalonians ceased to work, neglected their every-day du- 
ties, and gave themselves up to religious enthusiasm. To correct this 
tendency, St. Paul wrote his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, in 
which he shows them what things must take place before Christ 
comes the second time. 

i. What did Paul say in First Thessalonians regarding the second 
coming of Christ? See i Thess. 5:1-3, and 4:13-18. 

2. Read 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2. 

3. In the chapter just read Paul seeks to allay the fears of the 

Thessalonians concerning the second coming of Christ. What 
he means, however, is not clear, for his language is very 
guarded. He had, while with them, given more definite in- 
formation (2 Thess. 2:5). Various conjectures have been made 
regarding the "man of sin, the son of perdition" (verse 3). 
St. Augustine says, "I confess I am entirely ignorant what 
the Apostle meant." One theory is that the Roman Emperor 
was the son of perdition whom Paul had in mind. Some Prot- 
estants have held that it was the Pope: some Catholics that it 
was Martin Luther. 

4. Some one seems to have forged a letter over Paul's name, and to 

have sent it to the Thessalonians : 2 Thess. 2 :2. Consequently 

Paul, who apparently always employed an amanuensis to write 

his letters, from this time forth adds in his own handwriting a 

few lines to each of his epistles as a sign of authenticity. See 

2 Thess. 3:17; 1 Cor. 16:21; Galatians 6:11; Colossians 4:18. 

Thought for the Day: Are you willing that the Spirit of God 

should come into your heart and dwell there ? Are you anxious that 

His Kingdom should now include you? Are you willing to put 

from you those things that might .keep the Heavenly Guest from 

entering into your soul ? 



XIV :5 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 109 

Study XIV.— jFrom SttljciiBi to &ntiod; 

Fifth Day : A Mob Attacks Paul at Corinth 

Certain of the unbelieving Jews of Corinth, angered because of 
Paul's successful work among the Gentiles, stirred up a mob, and 
brought him before the Roman proconsul on the charge that he was 
teaching an unlawful religion. The proconsul contemptuously dis- 
missed the case, whereupon the Greeks seized the ringleader of the 
Jews, and gave him a beating. 

1. Read Acts 18:12-17. 

2. What was the real reason which led the Jews to stir up perse- 

cution against Paul? 

3. Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, was the brother of the philosopher 

Seneca, and uncle of the poet Lucan. "He was the very flower 
of pagan courtesy and pagan culture — a Roman with all a 
Roman's dignity and seriousness, and yet with all the grace 
and versatility of a polished Greek." 

4. Verse 13: The Jewish law is meant by "the law" of this verse. 

Throughout the Roman Empire the Jewish religion was a 
religio licita, or lawful religion. The Jews of Corinth tried to 
persuade Gallio that the Christian religion was a spurious imi- 
tation of their own religion, and hence a religio illicita, or un- 
lawful religion. 

5. Verses 14 and 15 : Gallio shows that he understands perfectly the 

Jewish fondness for idle discussions of the Jewish law. He 
was probably in Rome at the time when Claudius expelled the 
Jews. See Acts 18:2. 

6. Verse 17: The Jews were unpopular among the Gentiles in St. 

Paul's time. It was always easy to stir up a mob against 
them ; Jew-baiting was not uncommon. The contemptuous man- 
ner in which the proconsul dismissed the case was the signal 
for the lively Greeks to attack Sosthenes and give him a 
beating. 

7. "And Gallio cared for none of these things." Perhaps he thought 

that the informal punishment of Sosthenes would be a valuable 

lesson. 
Prayer : "0 Lord, in whom is the truth, help us, we entreat Thee, 
to speak the truth in love, to hate a lie, to eschew exaggeration, in- 
accuracy, affectation. Yea, though tribulation or persecution should 
arise for the Truth's sake, suffer us not to be offended." Amen. 



no Studies in the Life of St. Paul XIV :6 

Study XIV.— jFrom Wens to &nti0tj) 

Sixth Day : Paul Returns from Corinth to Antioch 

by Way of Ephesus 

After laboring for many months in Corinth, Paul at last left the 
city to return to Antioch in Syria. On the voyage he stopped at 
Ephesus for a few days. From Ephesus he sailed to Csesarea. From 
Csesarea he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the Church, then pro- 
ceeded overland to Antioch. 
i. Read Acts 18:18-22. 

2. Verse 18 : 

(a) How long had Paul been in Corinth prior to the event of 
yesterday's lesson? See verse 11. 

(b) Who were Aquila and Priscilla? 

(c) Locate Cenchreas. 

(d) Paul had taken upon himself the vow of a Nazarite : see 
Numbers 6:1-21. Paul, as is seen from to-day's lesson, 
did not abandon all of the Jewish rites and ceremonies. 
However, he held that they were not necessary for sal- 
vation. 

3. Locate Ephesus, and mark it with a cross. From verses 19-21 

nothing can be learned concerning the success of Paul's labors 
during his brief stay in Ephesus, save that the Jews desired 
him to remain longer. 

4. Verse 22 : Of this visit to Jerusalem nothing is known. 

5. Verse 22: At Antioch Paul must have received a warm and en- 

thusiastic welcome. Judging from Acts 14:27, what did Paul 
do immediately upon his return to Antioch? 

6. In what cities had Paul preached during this second missionary 

journey? 
Thought for the Day : After his return from Greece to Antioch 
the wickedness of Corinth seems still to have weighed heavily upon 
Paul's heart, for in the Epistle to the Galatians, written at Antioch, 
Paul speaks in particular of the "lusts of the flesh." Read carefully 
Galatians 5:16-21, and ask yourself whether any of these sins have 
dominion over you. Pray Him that you may have strength to resist 
them. 



XIV 7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul ill 

Study XIV. — jfrom Wens to &nttoc& 

Seventh Day: Paul Writes the Epistle to the 

Galatians 

After his return to Antioch, Paul learned that certain Judaizing 
Christians had been at work among his Galatian converts, teaching 
them that they must be circumcised and must keep the Mosaic Law. 
These teachers sought to increase their own influence by alleging 
that Paul was not a genuine apostle since he had not seen the Lord 
Jesus, and had not derived his commission from the apostles at 
Jerusalem. 

To vindicate his authority as an apostle, and to show that the law 
of Moses was not binding upon Christians, Paul wrote his Epistle 
to the Galatians. 

1. Who were the Galatians? See page 79, section 4. 

2. Paul's authority as an apostle: Galatians 1:1. 

3. Paul's independence: 

(a) The source of his gospel: Gal. 1:11 and 12. 

(b) His relation to the apostles at Jerusalem: Gal. 1:15-20 
and Gal. 2:1-10. 

4. The fickleness of the Galatians and their desertion to Judaism: 

Gal. 1 :6-g; 4:9-11. 

5. The Law was preparatory to the coming of Christ: Gal. 4:1-8. 

6. Faith in Christ, not the law, brings righteousness: Gal. 5:1-6. 

7. Review rapidly the lessons of this Study (XIV) by reading the 

introductory paragraph of each. 
Thought for To-day : In the Epistle to the Galatians, over against 
the "lusts of the flesh," noticed yesterday, Paul puts the "fruits of 
the Spirit." Read Galatians 5 :22-26, and ask yourself whether you 
are trying to show these fruits of the Spirit 



PART VI 

Paul's Third Missionary Journey 

Study XV. — From Antioch to Ephesus 
Study XVI. — From Ephesus to Corinth 
Study XVII. — Paul's Last Journey to Jerusalem 



XV: i Studies in the Life of St. Paul 115 

Study XV.— from &ntioc!) to Cp&estts 

First Day: Paul Travels Through Galatia and 

Phrygia: Apollos Goes to Ephesus 

After a stay of some little time in Ephesus, Paul started out on his 
third missionary journey; he passed through Galatia into Phrygia, 
his destination being Ephesus. Meanwhile Apollos, a learned and 
eloquent Jew' of Alexandria, arrived at Ephesus and began to teach 
among the Jews. Apollos, however, was imperfectly instructed in 
Christianity, knowing only the baptism of John. Aquila and Pris- 
cilla, however, taught him what was lacking. 

1. Read Acts 18:23. 

(a) Paul's route was doubtless similar to that on his second 
missionary journey: See Acts 15:40 and 41; 16:1-6. 

(b) Timothy was probably with Paul at this time, for the 
apostle seems never to have traveled alone. 

2. Read Acts 18:24-28. 

3. Alexandria, in Egypt, was founded by Alexander the Great in 

332 B.C. Because of its location and its fine harbor it became 
one of the centers of trade between the east and west; it grew 
rapidly, and soon contained a large population of Egyptians, 
Greeks, and Jews. The city had many handsome buildings, 
among which were the Museum and the great library. The 
Jews of Alexandria were profoundly influenced by the liter- 
ary atmosphere of the brilliant Greek city in which they lived, 
and were so much interested in Greek culture that they diligently 
studied the Old Testament Scriptures, seeking to find parallels 
and analogies between them and the writings of the Greek 
philosophers. With this kind of learning Apollos was saturated. 

4. Verse 25 : There were Jews here and there who had believed 

in the preaching of John, and had accepted the baptism of re- 
pentance, but as yet did not know the doctrine of salvation by 
faith nor of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Such was the spirit- 
ual condition of Apollos. 

5. When did Aquila and Priscilla (verse 26) come to Ephesus? 

Acts 18:2. 

6. What part of Greece was designated as Achaia? What was the 

capital of Achaia? 



n6 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XV :2 

Study XV. — jFrcm tottcc!) to ^fyzms 
Second Day: Paul Arrives at Ephesus 

When Paul reached Ephesus, Apollos was already in Corinth. 
At Ephesus Paul found several disciples, who, like Apollos, knew 
only of the baptism of John. These men, after Paul had taught 
them, and had laid his hands on them, received the Holy Spirit. 
i. Read Acts 19:1-7. 

2. Verse 1 : Had Paul been in Ephesus before? At what time, and 

how long did he stay? Acts 18:19 and 20. 

3. Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia, which 

consisted of Mysia, Lydia, and Caria — the greater part of 
western Asia Minor. Ephesus was also the religious center 
of Asia Minor, for in it was the famous temple of Artemis, or 
Diana, which was one of the seven wonders of the world. This 
temple contained an image of Artemis, which fell down from 
heaven (Acts 19:35), also art treasures of immense value. The 
Ephesians were notorious for their belief in magical arts and 
for the use of amulets of parchment inscribed with incanta- 
tions. 

4. Paul now begins a long and eventful period of labor in the capital 

of the Roman province of Asia. In what capitals has he al- 
ready labored? 

5. Verse 2: John and his first disciples were not ignorant of the 

baptism of the Holy Spirit, but they seem not to have under- 
stood its significance. See the words of John the Baptist in 
Mark 1 :8 and John 1 :32 and 33. 

6. Verse 4 : It would seem from this verse that the twelve men with 

whom Paul was speaking knew little or nothing about Jesus as 
the Messiah. 

"Holy Ghost, with light divine 

Shine upon this heart of mine; 
Chase the shades of night away, 
Turn my darkness into day, 

"Holy Spirit, all divine, 

Dwell within this heart of mine; 
Cast down every idol-throne, 
Reign supreme, and reign alone." 

— Andrew Reed, 



XV :3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul uy 

Study XV.— jfrom 9tntiocj) to Cp&esttfl; 

Third Day: Paul Withdraws from the Synagogue 

to the School of Tyrannus 

For three months Paul taught in the synagogue, but meeting with 
opposition from the unbelieving Jews, he withdrew to a school build- 
ing, in which he taught and preached for the next two years. From 
Ephesus the Gospel spread throughout the whole province of Asia. 
So mightily did the Spirit of God rest upon Paul that special 
miracles were wrought by his hands. 
i. Read Acts 19:8-12. 

2. Verse 9: Tyrannus was probably a Sophist, a teacher cf rhetoric 

and philosophy. He would rent his building to any one whose 
teachings did not conflict with his own. 

3. "Reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus" (verse 9). There 

were many questions to discuss, not only the doctrines of 
Christianity, but the relation of pagan life to Christianity — ques- 
tions about marriage and divorce, slavery, the use of meat of- 
fered to idols, etc. 

4. Verse 10: Observe the thoroughness with which the Gospel is 

spread throughout Roman Asia. In this province were those 
seven churches of Asia to whom John wrote in Revelation: See 
Rev. 1:11. Paul himself may have founded all these churches 
with the exception of that in Laodicea : Col. 2:1. Locate these 
places on your outline map, and mark them with crosses. 

5. Verses 11 and 12: Why were the miracles of St. Paul likely to 

attract special attention at Ephesus? See page 116, section 3. 

6. Verse 12: The aprons mentioned in this verse Paul may have 

worn while working at his trade of tent-making. 
Prayer: "Help me, O Lord, that by devotion to Thee and by 
the sweetness and purity of my life, I may bring others to Thee, 
and thus, like the blessed Apostle St. Paul, aid in spreading the 
Kingdom on earth." Amen. 



u8 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XV :4 

Study XV.— jFrom &ttttocJ) to (^p&estts 
Fourth Day: The Ephesians Burn Their Books of 

Magic 

In Ephesus, the city of magic and of wonders, certain Jewish 
exorcists, learning of Paul's miracles, undertook to make use of his 
name and that of Jesus in casting out evil spirits. The consequences 
were so disastrous to the exorcists that fear fell upon the Ephesians, 
and many of them who had patronized or practiced magic renounced 
their deeds and burnt their books. 

1. Read Acts 19:13-20. 

2. Verse 13: An exorcist is one who casts out evil spirits. These 

men probably professed to cure diseases by charms and in- 
cantations ; their methods may have been somewhat like the 
"medicine-men" of the North American Indians. 

3. Why did these exorcists make use of the names of Jesus and 

of Paul? 
4- Verse 16: Only two of the sons of Sceva were concerned on this 

occasion. Note that the R.V. says "mastered both of them." 
5. Verses 17-20: 

(a) Verse 18: Many of the converted Ephesians had apparently 
continued to patronize or practice sorcery, magic, and 
soothsaying, perhaps not realizing that there was any evil 
in such a course. They now are led to see the folly of 
such superstitious rites. 

(b) The Jews had magic formulas and receipts for incanta- 
tions and exorcisms dating from the time of Solomon; the 
Ephesians had charms made up of the words written upon 
the crown, girdle, and feet of the statue of Artemis (or 
Diana). These were the Ephesia grammata, mentioned by 
ancient writers. 

(c) The "pieces of silver" were probably Greek drachmae. As 
the drachma was worth a little less than twenty cents, the 
value of the books was almost ten thousand dollars. 

The Mystery of the Gospel : In his letter to the Ephesians, the 
people who made so much of magic and mystery, Paul has much 
to say concerning the "mystery of Christ" and the "mystery of the 
Gospel." Read Ephesians 3:1-12. 



XV o Studies in the Life of St. Paul 119 



Study XV— £ rom a*tt«J| to Cp^sus 

Fifth Day: Details of Paul's Work at Ephesus 

Certain details of Paul's work at Ephesus may be gathered from 
incidental allusions in his First Epistle to the Cc and from 

. :.. ieli rred at Miletus to the elders of Ephesus, reported in 
Acts 20:17-36. 

1. The field, its advantages and disadvantages : 1 Cor. 16 :8 and 9. 

2. The thoroughness of Paul's work: Acts 19:10 and 20:20. 

3. Paul's doctrine: Acts 20:21. 

4. His earnestness: Acts 20:31. 

5. Paul worked at his trade: Acts 20:34; his reason for so doing: 

Acts _. 

6. At this time Paul may have suffered some of the hardships which 

he mentions in his two letters to the Corinthians : See 1 Cor. 
4:9-13 and 2 Cor. 11 :2_ 

7. Paul plans to visit Macedonia and Achaia; he sends two of his 

helpers on in advance : Set s 19:21 and 22 

8. Acts 19:22: Er?.s*_us was a person of no little importance at 

Corinth : See Romans 16 123 — an Epistle written at Corinth. 
A Monument of Paul's Work : The most astonishing monument 
of the success of Paul's work at Ephesus is his E the Eft :- 

"This is perhaps the profoundest book in existence; yet its 
author evidently expected the Ephesians to understand it. If the ora- 
tions of Demosthenes, with their closely packed arguments, between 
whose articulations even a knife cannot be thrust be a monument 
of the intellectual greatness of the Greece which listened to them 
;leasure; if the plays of Shakespeare, with their deep views of 
life and their obscure and complex language, be a testimony to the 
strength of mind of the Elizabethan Age ; then the Epistle to the 
Ephesians. which sounds the lowest depths of Christian doctrine and 
scales the loftiest heights of Christian experience, is a testimony to 
the proficiency which Paul's converts had attained under his preach- 
ing at Ephesus." — Stalker. 



120 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XV :6 

Study XV* — jFrout ^tnttocj to ^p^eatta 
Sixth Day: Trouble in the Church at Corinth 

During his sojourn of three years at Ephesus, Paul seems to have 
made a visit to Corinth not recorded by Luke in the book of Acts; 
he also wrote a letter to the Corinthians which is not extant. A 
little later Paul learned that there were factions in the Church at 
Corinth. About the same time, also, three men came from Corinth 
bearing a letter in which the Corinthians asked the Apostle for 
light on certain vexatious questions. 

i. Paul's second visit to Corinth: Read 2 Cor. 13:1. Paul visited 
Corinth the first time on his second missionary journey. In 
the verse just read he says he is coming for the third time. 
The second visit was therefore made, in all likelihood, from 
Ephesus. Paul visited them "with sorrow": 2 Cor. 2:1 
(R.V.). They had relapsed into heathen vice; he rebuked and 
warned them. 

2. Paul's lost letter to the Corinthians: See 1 Cor. 5:9. This letter 

was written to correct the immoral tendencies of the Corinth- 
ians. It was sent, probably, soon after the visit mentioned in 
the paragraph above. 

3. News of fresh trouble at Corinth: 

(a) Paul learns of factions in the Church: 1 Cor. 1 :il. 

(b) A case of gross immorality: 1 Cor. 5:1. 

(c) Law-suits between Church members before pagan tribu- 
nals: 1 Cor. 6:1. 

4. Three members of the Corinthian Church visit Paul : 1 Cor. 16:17. 

They probably brought the letter mentioned by Paul in 1 Cor. 
7:1. 

5. In the letter sent to Paul, the Corinthians ask Paul for advice on 

certain matters pertaining to moral conduct and to worship. 
Paul on Christian Love: Paul's cure for the factions and dis- 
orders of the Corinthian Church was love. Read the thirteenth 
chapter of First Corinthians. If you read the A.V. be sure to sub- 
stitute throughout the chapter the word love for the word charity. 



XV 7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 121 

Study XV. — jFrom &itttccl) to ^pl^stus 
Seventh Day: Paul's First Epistle to the Cor- 
inthians 

Paul, on learning of the factions in the Church at Corinth and of 
the existence of gross immorality, now writes the letter known as 
First Corinthians. In this epistle he also answers the questions asked 
in the letter from Corinth — brought probably by Stephanas, Fortun- 
atus, and Achaicus. 

1. There were four factions at Corinth, consisting of the followers 

of Paul, Apollos, Cephas or Peter, and Christ. Paul had been 
liberal in the treatment of the questions arising between Jew 
and Gentile, hence Paul's party was the liberal faction ; Apollos 
had captivated the Greeks with the philosophical turn which he 
gave his preaching: his party was the philosophical faction; 
Peter's party was the Judaizing faction ; lastly, those who fol- 
lowed neither Paul nor Apollos nor Peter called themselves 
Christ's party. 

2. For Paul's treatment of these factions, read 1 Cor. 1 : 10-24. 

3. Paul's rebuke of gross immorality: 1 Cor. 5:1-5, and 9-11. 

4. His advice to those who were fond of law-suits: 1 Cor. 6:1-7. 

5. His advice concerning the observance of the Lord's Supper: 

1 Cor. 11 :20-30. 

6. Paul also answers in this letter various questions asked him by 

the Corinthian Church : On marriage, on meat offered to idols, 
on the conduct of public worship, on the use of spiritual gifts. 

7. He instructs the Corinthians to get ready a collection for the 

poor at Jerusalem : 1 Cor. 16:1-4. 
Meat Offered to Idols : One of the questions that bothered some 
of the early Gentile Christians was that of meat offered to idols. 
In ancient sacrifice oftentimes only part of the victim was burned ; 
the rest of the carcass was returned to the worshipper or given to 
the poor. Is it right, asked the Christians, to eat such meat? For 
St. Paul's answer read 1 Cor. chapter 8. The principle laid down 
by Paul in verses 9 to 13 is the one that should be kept in mind 
nowadays by those Christians who honestly differ regarding certain 
questions of amusement, the observance of the Sabbath day, etc. 



122 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XVI :i 

Study XVI.— iFrom ©p&eistus to Corintj) 

First Day: Paul's Troubles at Ephesus 

Paul's troubles at Ephesus were twofold : on the one hand the im- 
morality and disorder of the Corinthian Church deeply grieved 
him; on the other hand he was prostrated by a severe illness in 
which he almost despaired of life. 

1. St. Paul sent Timothy to Corinth shortly before writing First 

Corinthians: See Acts 19:22 and 1 Cor. 4:17. 

2. It is believed by some scholars that Timothy came back from 

Corinth to Ephesus bringing word that First Corinthians had 
not been received altogether with favor. Timothy seems to have 
been insulted or wronged by some one: 2 Cor. 7:11 and 12. 

3. Grieved by the news brought by Timothy, St. Paul wrote a 

letter, which is not extant. This letter he wrote in much 
anguish of mind : 2 Cor. 2 '.3 and 4, and 2 Cor. 7 :8. In this 
letter Paul urged that the wrongdoer be disciplined. 

4. The letter was probably sent by Titus and an unknown brother: 

2 Cor. 12:18. 

5. Paul's illness : 2 Cor. 1 :8 and 9. This illness was accompanied 

by persecution and anxiety: 2 Cor. 4:8-10, and 6:4 and 5. 

"The terrible closing scenes at Ephesus, the revolt of Galatia and 
Corinth, and the prostrating attack of sickness by their concurrent 
effect brought Paul into the lowest depths of affliction, and God is 
now to him above all 'the Father of consolations.' " 

St. Paul's Consolation: "Blessed be God, even the Father of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all 
comfort ; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be 
able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort where- 
with we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of 
Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ." 
— Second Epistle to the Corinthians, 1 :3-5. 



XVI :2 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 123 

Study XVI.— -from epljesua to Cortntf) 
Second Day: Paul is Opposed by a Shrine-Makers' 
Trade-Union 

Owing to Paul's labors in Ephesus and neighboring cities, Chris- 
tianity spread rapidly throughout the province of Asia. So many 
converts were gained from paganism that the tradesmen who sold 
silver shrines of Artemis (Diana) were aware of a marked decrease 
in business. Alarmed at this, the silversmiths held a meeting in 
order to take steps to counteract the teaching of Paul. The meeting 
soon became noisy and turbulent. 

1. Read Acts 19 '.23-28. 

2. Demetrius seems to have been a wholesale dealer in shrines of 

Artemis (or Diana). The influence of the great temple of 
Artemis at Ephesus had been very powerful up to this time, 
and the sale of shrines was a lucrative business. The "crafts- 
men" of verse 24 were skilled workmen who made the shrines. 

3. Compare verse 26 with verse 10 of this same chapter. 

4. It was now the month of May, a month devoted at Ephesus to the 

worship of Artemis, and hence named the Artemisian month. At 
this time the Ephesia was celebrated — a festival in honor of the 
goddess. To this festival vast throngs of pilgrims and visitors 
were accustomed to flock. Apparently, however, not so many 
came as usual, or else there was in other ways a lack of in- 
terest in the celebration, for the silversmiths were aware of a 
diminution in the sale of shrines. 

5. Verse 27: Some years later, Pliny, the Roman governor of 

Bithynia, in a letter to the Emperor Trajan, wrote that owing to 
the spread of Christianity in Asia the temples were vacated, 
the pagan feasts were neglected, and victims for sacrifices could 
find no buyers. 
Thought for the Day : Do men oppose Christianity at the pres- 
ent time because its teachings, if carried out in practice, cause a 
diminution of their business profits? Can you think of any forms 
of business in which Christians should not engage? 



124 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XVI 13 

Study XVI.— from ©p&estts to €0rintb 

Third Day : The Shrine-Makers Cause a Riot 

The meeting of silversmiths and workmen who had gathered to 
oppose the work of Paul soon became so noisy that people came 
running from every quarter to learn the cause of the outcry. Mad- 
dened with religious fanaticism, the mob seized two of Paul's com- 
panions and carried them into the theater. So great was the uproar 
and confusion that the majority of those present did not know why 
they had come together. 

1. Read Acts 19:29-34. 

2. Verse 29 : 

(a) Gaius is otherwise unknown; Aristarchus is mentioned sev- 
eral times subsequently; for his city and nationality, see 
Acts 27:2. 

(b) The theater at Ephesus would seat from twenty-five to 
thirty thousand people. 

3. Why did Paul wish to go in to the people in the theater? 

4. Verse 31 : The "chief officers of Asia" were local officers in the 

cities of Asia in charge of the games and religious festivals 
of the province. 

5. Verse 33 : This was a riot directed primarily against the Chris- 

tians, but as many of the Christians were Jews, the mob failed 
to discriminate between Christian and non-Christian Jews. So 
the non-Christian Jews in the theater put forward Alexander 
to explain that Jews were not Christians, though some Chris- 
tians might happen to be renegade Jews. 
"Alexander succeeded in struggling somewhere to the front, and 
stood before the mob with outstretched hand in the attempt to win 
an audience for his oration. But no sooner had the mob recognized 
the well-known traits of Jewish physiognomy than they vented their 
hate in a shout of 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians !' . . . For 
two hours, as though they had been howling dervishes, did this 
mongrel Greek crowd continue incessantly their senseless yell. By 
that time they were sufficiently exhausted to render it possible to 
get a hearing." — Canon Farrar. 



XVI :4 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 125 

Study XVI.— JFnrat (Epijesttfi to Corintl) 

Fourth Day: The Shrine-Makers' Riot (Continued) 

For two hours the mob shouted its fanatical cry, "Great is Artemis 
cf the Ephesians!" Then the town clerk quieted them, and by a 
wise and sensible speech led them to disperse. 

1. Read Acts 19:35-41. 

2. Notes on verse 35 : 

(a) Town clerk : He was the recorder of the city, had charge 
of the archives, and made all public communications known 
to the city. 

(b) In this verse, as in verses 24. 27, 28, and 34. the Greek 
name Artemis should appear rather than the Latin Diana. 
Similarly, Zeus should be substituted for Jupiter. 

(c) The image fabled to have fallen from heaven was "a figure 
swathed like a mummy, covered with monstrous breasts, 
and holding in one hand a trident and in the other a 
club." 

3. Verse 37 : 

(a) The Jews were often accused of temple-robbing. See 
Romans 2:22 (R.V.). 

(b) From the latter part of this verse what do you infer 
regarding Paul's treatment of the worship of Artemis at 
Ephesus? How did Paul treat the pagan religion of 
Athens? 

4. Verses 38-41 : 

(a) The Greek word rendered "deputies" in the A.V. is cor- 
rectly given as "proconsuls" in the R.V. 

(b) Verse 40 hints at fear of the Roman authorities. This 
was one of the occasions when the Roman power indirectly 
helped the Christians. What other instance of this sort do 
you recall? 

(c) Perhaps the town clerk, like the "chief officers of Asia" 
(verse 31), favored Paul. 

Read the entire account of this riot, verses 23-41, and compel 
your imagination to picture to you the scenes described by Luke. 



126 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XVI :5 

Study XVI.— from Cp&estte; to Cortntj) 

Fifth Day : Paul Goes to Macedonia and Writes 

Second Corinthians 

Shortly after the riot at Ephesus, Paul left for Macedonia. He 
had previously instructed Titus, who had gone to Corinth, to meet 
him at Troas. Not finding Titus at Troas, Paul was greatly dis- 
appointed, and went on into Macedonia. In Macedonia, Titus 
came to Paul, bringing news that the Corinthians had punished the 
offender against whom Paul had written, and that the four factions 
of the Church had now resolved themselves into two : the followers 
of Paul and the enemies of Paul. The enemies of Paul attacked 
his claim to apostleship, accused him of vacillation, and even criti- 
cised his speech and personal appearance. Paul then wrote his 
Second Epistle to the Corinthians, which is the most personal of 
all his letters, since it is filled with allusions to himself, his experi- 
ences, his inner life, his thoughts and fears. 

1. Paul's departure for Macedonia : 

(a) Read Acts 20:1. 

(b) He fails to find Titus at Troas: 2 Cor. 2:12 and 13. 

(c) Locate Troas. 

2. Titus joins Paul in Macedonia: 2 Cor. 7:5-7. 

(a) What kind of news does Titus bring Paul concerning the 
Church at Corinth? 

(b) Titus is accompanied by two unknown brethren: 2 Cor. 
8:18 and 8:22-24. 

Prayer: "O God, since Thou art love, and he that loveth not 
Thee and his brethren knoweth Thee not, and abideth in death, 
deliver us from injustice, envy, hatred, and malice; give us grace 
to pardon all who have offended us, and to bear with one another, 
even as Thou, Lord, dost bear with us, in Thy patience and great, 
loving kindness." Amen. 



XVI :6 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 127 

Study XVL— Jrom ^p&efitta to Corinth 

Sixth Day: Second Corinthians (Continued) 

Second Corinthians is very difficult to study owing to the uncer- 
tainty of the order of the events to which it refers, and owing to 
the obscurity of many of its allusions. On the other hand, the letter 
is unusually rich in autobiographical material. Some of this material 
has already been used for study: such as Paul's illness at Ephesus, 
his troubles, his anxious suspense while waiting for Titus to return 
from Corinth, his joy at learning of the obedience of the Corinthian 
Church. The verses yet remaining for study are chiefly those 
relating to Paul's defense of himself against his enemies. 

1. Paul had earlier changed his original plan of visiting Corinth, 

whereupon his enemies accused him of weakness and vacilla- 
tion : 2 Cor. 1 115-24. 

2. Some of the insinuations of Paul's enemies: 2 Cor. 10:10. 

3. In defending himself against those who attacked his claim to 

apostleship, Paul proudly reviews his life among the Cor- 
inthians ; he denounces his enemies, and boasts of his Hebrew 
blood: 2 Cor. 11 :i-22. 

4. Paul tells of his sufferings and labors for the cause of Christ: 

2 Cor. 11:23-28. In these verses, Paul mentions many events 
not given at all by Luke in the book of Acts. 

(a) Verse 23 : Only one imprisonment of Paul is known from 
Luke's narrative. Where did it take place? 

(b) Verse 24 : Luke says nothing about these five Jewish 
scourgings. 

(c) Verse 25 : Luke tells of only one occasion when Paul 
was beaten with rods; where was it? Paul says also he 
was shipwrecked thre times, and that once he was in the 
water twenty-four hours. Nothing is known concerning 
these experiences. 

5. From verses 23-27 of chapter 11 of Second Corinthians it is clear 

that there are many unwritten and unknown chapters in the 
life of St. Paul. Some of these experiences he may have had 
during his long stay at Ephesus, while engaged in preaching 
tours away from the city. 

6. Paul's vision of Christ: 2 Cor. 12:1-6. What bearing has this 

vision of Christ as a defense of Paul's apostleship? See Acts 
1 :2l, and page 21, section 6, of these Studies, 



128 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XVI 7 

Study XVL— iFrom ^p&egttsi to Coring 

Seventh Day : Paul Arrives at Corinth : He Writes 

the Epistle to the Romans 

After a sojourn in Macedonia, Paul came into Greece. He made 
Corinth his headquarters, and while in that city wrote his Epistle 
to the Romans, which, of all his letters, is the most systematic. In 
it he sets forth the doctrine of "Justification by Faith." The letter 
contains only a very few allusions to the apostle himself. 

1. Read Acts 20, verse 1 (latter part), verse 2, and the first clause 

of verse 3. 

2. By "Greece" Luke means Greece proper, or the province of 

Achaia, of which the capital was Corinth. 

THE CHURCH AT ROME 

While in Corinth, Paul wrote a letter to the Church at Rome. 
It is not likely that the Church at Rome was founded by any one 
of the apostles. It seems to have been composed largely of Gen- 
tiles, many of whom were proselytes. Probably Gentile and Jewish 
Christians from Judea, Syria, Asia Minor, and Greece had settled in 
Rome, attracted thither on business, and had formed a church in 
the city. 

paul's letter to the Romans 

Paul had now preached the Gospel from Judea around through 
Asia Minor as far as the west coast of Greece; he now plans to 
go to Italy and Spain. But first he must carry the collection for 
the poor to Jerusalem. Evidently he fears that the Judaizing teach- 
ers who had tampered with the Galatians and the Corinthians might 
go to Rome before he should return from Jerusalem. He there- 
fore writes to prepare the Roman Christians against these false 
teachers, and also to give them such advice as they, being Gentiles, 
would especially need. 

(a) Paul has preached the Gospel fully in the East, and now 
plans to visit Rome and Spain: Romans 15:18-24. 

(b) He must first go to Jerusalem: Romans 15:25-28. 

(c) He fears trouble at Jerusalem : Romans 15 '.30-33. 

That part of Romans best known and oftenest read is, perhaps, 
chapter 12. It abounds in practical exhortations to purity of spir- 
itual life and to kindness and love in the dealings of Christians one 
with another. Read carefully Romans 12. Memorize verse 10, and 
make it your motto to-day. 



XVII: i Studies in the Life of St. Paul 129 

1 

Study XVI L— JJattl's Last STcmme? to Jerusalem 
First Day: Paul Leaves Corinth and Goes to Troas 

in Asia 

After staying three months in Greece, Paul planned to sail to 
Syria. Learning of this, his enemies sought to kill him, whereupon 
he changed his plan, and journeyed through Macedonia to Troas 
in Asia. He was now on his way to Jerusalem, bearing a gift of 
money for the poor of that city, and accompanied by representatives 
of the churches which had contributed. 

1. Read Acts 20:3-6. 

2. Verse 3: Had Paul ever been in danger before from the Jews 

at Corinth? 

3. Why did Paul go to Jerusalem at this time? Rom. 15:24 and 25. 

4. The collection for the poor at Jerusalem had long been a project 

very close to Paul's heart: 

(a) The first mention of the collection : Gal. 2 :g and 10. 

(b) Instructions sent to Galatia and Corinth: 1 Cor. 16:1-5 
and 2 Cor. 9:1-4. 

5. There were many poor people in the Christian Church at Jerusa- 

lem : See Acts 2:44 and 45; 4:34 and 35: 

(a) When did Paul on an earlier occasion carry relief to the 
sufferers at Jerusalem? Acts 11:27-30. 

(b) The Jerusalem Christians may have been impoverished 
through persecution: 1 Thess. 2:14. 

6. Verse 6 : Paul's route lay through Philippi. At Philippi, Luke 

joined Paul's party, as is clear from the use of "we" in this, 
verse. The last preceding w^-section of Acts ends in chapter 
16, verse 16, where Luke was left behind at Philippi. 

7. The men who accompanied Paul seem to have been representa- 

tives of the churches which had contributed to the collection 
for the poor. From Macedonia came Aristarchus and Secundus 
of Thessalonica, Sopater of Berea, and Luke of Philippi; from 
Corinth, Paul himself may have been the representative ; from 
Asia came Tychicus and Trophimus ; and from Galatia, Gaius 
of Derbe and Timothy of Lystra. 

8. Verse 6: The "days of unleavened bread" were the eight days 

of the Passover festival. In this year (58 a.d.) the days of 
unleavened bread extended from March 27th to April 3d. 



130 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XVII :2 

Study XVII. — Jhttrs last 3fattmej> to 3jfcnt0alem 

Second Day : Paul Preaches at Troas 

When Paul and his party arrived at Troas, the Christians of 
that city gathered together to celebrate the Lord's Supper and to 
listen to instruction in Christian doctrine. 

1. Read Acts 20:7-12. 

2. What is meant by the words "to break bread"? 

3. On this occasion Paul may have repeated the words he wrote to 

the Corinthians concerning the Lord's Supper: 1 Cor. 11:23-30. 

4. Verse 7: The "first day of the week," that is, the day after 

the Jewish Sabbath, soon came to be regarded among the 
Christians as a day peculiarly appropriate for worship; it was 
the day of the week on which Christ rose from the grave. 

5. Verse 8 : What other upper chambers, wherein precious memories 

centered, are mentioned in the New Testament? 

6. Verses 8-12: There were many lights in the chamber, the air 

was heated, and Eutychus sat in the window for the sake of 
coolness. Overcome by drowsiness, he fell from the window. 
Luke, who was a physician, says that he was dead when 
taken up. 

7. By prayer, no doubt, Paul caused the life of Eutychus to be 

restored. Compare 2 Kings 4:33-35. Eutychus was probably 
left in the care of Luke while Paul continued his discourse. 

8. Verse 11: Paul's address lasted all night. On a later occasion 

at Rome, he spoke all day: Acts 28:23. 

9. Mark Troas with a cross on your outline map. 

Prayer: "O my God, by whose loving Providence, sorrows, diffi- 
culties, trials, dangers become means of grace, lessons of patience, 
channels of hope, grant us good will to use and not abuse those 
our privileges ; and, of Thy great goodness, keep us alive through 
this dying life, that out of death Thou mayest raise us up to immor- 
tality. For His sake who is the Life, Jesus Christ our Lord." 
Amen. 



XVII :3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 131 

Study XVIL— Rani's Last ^ftrnxrizy to Jerusalem 

Third Day : From Troas to Miletus 

Leaving Troas, Paul went overland to Assos, and thence by ship 
to Mitylene. From Mitylene he sailed past Chios and Samos, but 
stopped at Trogyllium. On the following day he arrived at Mi- 
letus. 

1. Read Acts 20:13-16. 

2. The distance overland from Troas to Assos is about twenty 

miles. An excellent road connected these towns. What rea- 
son can you give for the fact that Paul went overland to Assos 
alone, while his companions went around by sea? 

3. Trace Paul's course on the map from Troas to Miletus. 

4. Verse 15 : In the A.V., after the words "we arrived at Samos," 

the clause "and tarried at Trogyllium" is added. The clause 
does not appear in the R.V. Trogyllium is a promontory that 
juts out from the mainland alongside of Samos. 

5. Miletus lay about twenty-five miles southward from Ephesus. A 

city of importance in earlier times, it had declined so that in 
the days of St. Paul it was of little prominence. 

(a) Had Paul ever preached in Miletus? 

(b) Mark Miletus with a cross upon your outline map. 

6. Paul had lived at Ephesus for three years (54 to 57 a.d.). To 

visit Ephesus would require a great deal of time, owing to the 
large number of acquaintances he had there. Hence he passed 
by the city. 

7. Verse 16: 

(a) Paul had left Philippi after the Passover: See Acts 20:6, 
and page 129, section 8, of these Studies. 

(b) How long after the Passover was the day of Pentecost? 
See page 22, section 2. 

(c) What special events did the Christians associate with the 
Passover and with the day of Pentecost? 



132 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XVII -.4 

Study XVII. — Paul's Last ^Quxntv to Jerusalem 

Fourth Day : Paul's Address to the Elders of Ephe- 
sus at Miletus 

On this journey to Jerusalem, Paul had the conviction that bonds 
and afflictions awaited him. Feeling that he should not be able to 
see the Elders of the Ephesian Church again, he sent for them to 
come to him at Miletus. When they had arrived, Paul made to them 
a farewell address. 

The first part of this address, which will be studied to-day, is a 
review of Paul's labors among the Ephesians. 

1. Read Acts 20:17-27. 

2. Verse 17: Why did Paul not stop at Ephesus, and there deliver 

this address? 

3. Verses 18-21 : What success did Paul have in his labors at 

Ephesus? See Acts 19:10, and 19:26. 

4. Verses 22 and 23 : There were prophets in the early Christian 

Church. Some of these warnings may have come from them. 

5. Verse 24: "So that I may accomplish my course." Paul often 

speaks of the Christian life as a race for a prize: See 1 Cor. 
9:24, and Philippians 3:13 and 14. 

6. Verse 25 : Paul's words in this verse should not be taken as an 

inspired prophecy, but rather as a strong conviction. He prob- 
ably did visit Ephesus again, some years later, and when he 
came, it is unlikely that he saw more than a few, if any, of the 
Elders whom he now addresses. 

7. Verse 26 : For the interpretation of this verse read Ezekiel 33 :8. 
A Summary of Paul's Work: Paul had now preached the 

Gospel in four provinces of the Roman Empire — Galatia, Asia, Mace- 
donia, and Greece : "From Jerusalem round about to Illyricum, I 
have fully preached the Gospel of Christ." He had held his own 
against the Judaizing Christians within the Church and the unbe- 
lieving Jews outside of it. Now he is on his way to Jerusalem, 
bearing a collection for the poor from the churches of Asia Minor 
and Europe — the gift of Gentiles to Jews. No wonder that in the 
face of the dangers before him he can speak of finishing his course 
''with joy." Read again Acts 20:24. 



XVII :s Studies in the Life of St. Paul 133 

Study XVIL— Paul's Last ^ftmxnt? to Umwalem 
Fifth Day: Paul's Address at Miletus (Continued) 

The second part of Paul's address consists of solemn warnings and 
exhortations. He bids the Ephesian Elders to beware of factions 
and heresies, and exhorts them to remember the words of the Lord 
Jesus. 

1. Read Acts 20:28-38. 

2. Verses 29-31 : 

(a) From Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, written a few years 
after this occasion, it is clear that certain strange doctrines 
were introduced in Asia. These doctrines seem to be the 
result of a blending together of Oriental mysticism, Greek 
philosophy, and Christianity. 

(b) Read Revelation 2:1-6, remembering that Revelation was 
written probably between 90 and 100 a.d. 

3. Verse 34: "These hands": Paul then held up his hands, worn 

with the labor of tent-making. 

4. Verse 35 : The words of Jesus, quoted in this verse, are not 

found in any one of the four Gospels. A few other sayings also 
are preserved which, like this, are not included in the Gospels. 

5. Verses 36-38 : In the simple narrative of these three verses we 

see how strong were the friendships of St. Paul. He loved 
the Ephesians, and had completely won their hearts. 
The "Words of the Lord Jesus" : In verse 35 of to-day's lesson, 
Paul quotes certain words of Jesus. These words are not found 
in any of the Gospels. It should be remembered that at this time 
Luke, the writer of the Gospel which bears his name, was with Paul. 
Luke had probably already begun to gather the material for his 
"Life of Christ"; he must often have talked with Paul about the 
Gospel he was about to write. There are several passages in 
Paul's letters which are thought to be due to the influence of Luke, 
or possibly to be quotations from his writings. 



134 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XVII :6 

Study XVII. — Paul's Last 3fauntep to 3tosalem 

Sixth Day: From Miletus to Ptolemais 

From Miletus, Paul went by sea to Patara, touching at Coos and 
Rhodes. At Patara he took a ship for Phoenicia. Landing at Tyre, 
he remained seven days, and then sailed to Ptolemais. 
i. Read Acts 21 -.1-7. 

2. Trace Paul's course on the map from Miletus to Ptolemais. 

3. Verse 3 : Paul at Tyre in Phoenicia. 

(a) Had the Gospel been preached in Phoenicia? See Acts 
11 :io, and 15:1-3. 

(b) Mark Tyre with a cross on your outline map. 

4. Verse 4 : Compare with this verse, Acts 20 :22 and 23. 

5. Verse 5 : Paul may have visited Tyre eight years before this 

occasion, when on his way to Jerusalem with Barnabas, to 
consider the relation of Gentile converts to the Mosaic Law 
(Study XI, page 81). Now, after a visit of only seven days, 
the whole Church at Tyre escorts Paul to his ship — a strong 
proof of the affection which they felt toward him. Compare 
Acts 20:36-38. 

6. Verse 7: Locate Ptolemais on your map, and mark it with a 

cross. 

Thought for the Day: From verse 5 of to-day's lesson it is 
easy to infer that Paul was a man who had the affection of his 
friends. What qualities have you learned to admire in him? 

Prayer: "Confirm, O Lord, we pray Thee, the hearts of Thy 
children, and strengthen them with the power of Thy grace; that 
we may both be devout in prayer to Thee, and sincere in our love 
for each other ; through Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen. 



XVII 7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 135 

Study XVII.— Paul's last Sfottrnep to Jerusalem 

Seventh Day : From Ptolemais to Jerusalem : Paul's 
Imprisonment Prophesied 

From Ptolemais, Paul went to Caesarea, where he remained some 
days. The Feast of the Pentecost was now about two weeks away. 
Finally, at the Feast of the Pentecost, Paul went up to Jerusalem. 

1. Read Acts 21 :8-i7. 

2. Verse 8 : Philip the Evangelist : 

(a) What do you remember concerning Philip? 

(b) Who were "the seven," and why were they appointed? 

3. Verse 10 : Agabus : 

(a) Has Agabus been mentioned before in Acts? If so, where? 

(b) Agabus delivered his prophecy in a symbolical manner, 
just as the prophets of Old Testament times used to do. 

(c) This prophecy uttered by Agabus seems to have been the 
most definite and exact of any that had been made during 
the trip to Jerusalem. Even the fellow-travelers of Paul 
now urge him not to go to Jerusalem. 

4. Verse 13: Compare with this verse, Acts 20:22-24. 

5. Verses 15-17: 

(a) "We took up our baggage," R.V. The A.V. has the quaint 
phrase, "we took up our carriages." 

(b) Perhaps Mnason was converted as early as the time of 
the first Christian Pentecost. If not a Greek, he was prob- 
ably a Greek Jew. 

Review of Study XVII. — Read rapidly the introductory para- 
graphs of the lessons of this Study. What do you consider the 
most important thing contained in the lessons of this week? 



PART VII 

Paul's Arrest at Jerusalem and Voyage to Rome 

Study XVIII. — Paul's Arrest at Jerusalem 

Study XIX. — Paul Appears before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa : 

He Appeals to Caesar 
Study XX. — Paul is Sent to Rome : His Voyage and Shipwreck 



XVIII :i Studies in the Life of St. Paid 139 

Study XVIII.— Paul's Arrest at JJmtaalem 

First Day: Paul's Conference with the Elders 

On the day following his arrival at Jerusalem, Paul had a con- 
ference with James and the elders. His first concern was to deliver 
the collection he had gathered for the poor ; he also told his hearers 
of his successful work among the Gentiles. The elders urged him 
to observe certain Jewish rites during the Pentecost festival, in 
order that those Jewish Christians who were zealous for the Law 
of Moses might not stir up trouble against him. 

1. Read Acts 21 : 17-25. 

2. What do you recall, from previous study, concerning James? 

3. Where were the other apostles? 

4. Verses 18-20: Nothing is said concerning the gratitude of the 

Jerusalem Church for the collection brought by Paul. It seems, 
also, as though their zeal for the Law of Moses was greater 
than their joy at the conversion of the Gentiles. 

5. Verses 20 and 21 : Very many Jewish Christians had not broken 

at all with Judaism. They kept all the feasts, and observed 
all the ceremonies of the Jewish religion, but supplemented 
them with Christian rites and ceremonies. It was right for 
them that they should do so. The religion of the Old Testa- 
ment had prepared the way for that of the New Testament; 
a violent break with the past would have unsettled many of the 
Jews, accustomed as they were to the religion of their fathers. 
Their mistake, however, was in insisting that Gentiles should 
also observe all the laws of Moses and keep all the religious 
rites of the Jewish Church. 

6. Was Paul guilty of the charge made in verse 21 ? 

7. Verses 23 and 24 refer to the vow of a Nazarite. Had Paul ever 

kept such a vow? If so, when and where? 

8. For the vow of a Nazarite, see Numbers 6:1-21. 

In the time of Paul the period of a Nazarite vow seems to have 
lasted thirty days. At the end of that period the person who had 
made the vow announced to the priest that he was about to begin 
his seven days of purification. As may be learned from Numbers 
6:1-21, each person had to offer two rams, a sheep, a basket of 
unleavened cakes, and a libation of wine. On account of the ex- 
pense, the custom arose of allowing someone to take part in the 
purification ceremonials and defray the cost of the offerings. This 
St. Paul was asked to do for the four men mentioned in verse 23. 



140 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XVIII :2 

Study XVIIL— Jkui's; Arrest at Sentsalem 
Second Day: A Mob Attacks Paul 

Paul followed the advice of the elders, and undertook the purifica- 
tion ceremonies of a Nazarite. While he was in the temple, certain 
Jews stirred up a mob, took Paul from the temple, and prepared 
to kill him. Roman soldiers rescued Paul, and began to take him 
up into the tower adjoining the temple; they stopped, however, on 
the stairs to allow Paul to address the mob. 
i. Read Acts 21 126-40. 

2. Verse 26 : Paul was guilty of no inconsistency in taking part in 

this vow. He was a Jew, and observed very many Jewish rites 
and ceremonies. He maintained, however, that Gentile Chris- 
tians should not be compelled to adopt and observe all the rules 
of Judaism. 

3. Verse 28 : Surrounding the temple was a low stone parapet, with 

an inscription in Latin and Greek: 

"No stranger is to enter within the balustrade and embank- 
ment around the sacred place. Whoever is caught will be 
answerable for his death which will ensue." 

4. Why did they take Paul from the temple? 

5. Verse 32: The Roman garrison was in a tower called Antonia, 

adjoining the temple on the northwest side, and communicating 
with it by means of an outside stairway. 

6. Why did Paul address the chief captain — a Roman — in Greek? 

For the name of the chief captain, see Acts 23 126. 

7. Verse 38 : This Egyptian impostor had gathered together a mul- 

titude of people on the Mount of Olives, promising that at 
his command the walls of Jerusalem would fall. The Romans 
drove him away, and slew many of his adherents. 
"Born the equal of any subject, Paul was bred where that inheri- 
tance was peculiarly significant. It is not strange, therefore, that 
he alone of the apostles showed at all times a sense of high worldly 
station. His aristocratic consciousness was ingrained . . .witness 
the calm dignity of his address to the commander of Antonia; the 
quiet authority with which he called to account the magistrates of 
Philippi whom other Jews in that city would have approached as 
Shylock approached Bassanio; the unembarrassed mien with which 
he rebuked Agrippa and instructed Festus." — Wright, Cities of 
Paul. 



XVIII :3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 141 

Study XVIII.— Raul's Slrrest at ^ftvuszUm 

Third Day: Paul's Speech on the Castle Stairs 

Standing on the stairs of the castle, Paul addressed the mob in 
the Aramaic tongue, their national language. The men listened 
to him attentively as he told the story of his life, but when he spoke 
of his commission to preach to the Gentiles, they began to utter 
violent and frenzied cries against him. 

1. Read Acts 22:1-22. 

2. From verse 2 it is clear that the mob expected that Paul would 

address them in Greek — a language which most, if not all, of 
them understood. Why did Paul use the Aramaic tongue? 

3. This speech of Paul's is most tactful; he uses Aramaic rather 

than Greek; he seeks to show his knowledge of the law and 
his great regard for Jewish institutions ; he appeals to his hear- 
ers along those lines in which they are most interested: 

(a) He is a Jew, a pupil of the most celebrated Rabbi of the 
time, and had been a zealot for the Law (verses 1-3). 

(b) He persecuted the Christians, and was entrusted by the 
high priest with the commission of stamping out the 
Church in other cities (4 and 5). 

(c) His vision of Christ (verses 6-1 1). His Jewish hearers 
believed in visions in which God revealed Himself to His 
people. Their past history was one continuous revelation 
of God. 

4. Was there anything in Paul's address, as far as verse 20, that 

would offend or irritate his listeners? 

5. Why were the Jews so much enraged by the statement contained 

in verse 21 ? 

6. Verse 21: Compare with this verse, Acts 9:15. 

Thought for the Day : The lesson of to-day shows clearly how 
strong were the religious prejudices of the Jews, and how easily 
they could be aroused. Among us, at the present time, there are 
people who cannot see much that is good in those who do not belong 
to their own branch or denomination of the Christian Church. What 
spirit do you maintain toward those who do not believe as you do ? 
May they not be as acceptable to God as you are? 



142 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XVIII :4 

Study XVIIL— flatti's &rresit at Jerusalem 

Fourth Day: Paul's Roman Citizenship Saves Him 

from Scourging 

Inasmuch as Paul's speech was delivered in Aramaic, it is un- 
likely that the chief captain understood what was said. Nor did 
he know what charges were brought against the apostle. After 
removing Paul to the castle, the chief captain determined to scourge 
him — a cruel method of wringing the truth from an accused man. 
Paul, however, appealed to his rights as a Roman citizen, and so 
escaped from the scourging, 
i. Read Acts 22:23-29. 

2. Why did the Jews cast off their clothes (verse 23) ? See p. 39, 

section 4. For the throwing of dust, see 2 Samuel 16:13. 

3. "Under the Roman system of scourging, the culprit was stripped 

and tied in a bending posture to a pillar, or stretched on a 
frame, and the punishment was inflicted with a scourge made 
of leathern thongs weighted with sharp pieces of bone or lead." 

4. Verse 25 : 

(a) The thongs were used in binding Paul fast to the pillar 
or frame on which he was to be scourged. 

(b) The Porcian Law forbade the scourging of a Roman 
citizen. 

(c) On what occasion before this, as narrated by Luke, was 
Paul beaten by Roman officers? For other beatings not 
mentioned by Luke, see 2 Cor. 11:24 and 25. 

5. Verse 28: In the early part of the reign of Claudius (41-54 a.d.) 

Roman citizenship was sold at a high price. 

6. Had Paul ever before appealed to his right as a Roman citizen? 
Christian Citizenship: The rights of Roman citizenship meant 

much to Paul ; several times in his writings he makes use of figures 
of speech derived from the Roman political world : heaven is a com- 
monwealth, Christians are its citizens. "Our citizenship is in 
heaven ; from whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus 
Christ" (Phil. 3:20). "So then ye are no more strangers and 
sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints" (Eph. 2:19). 



XVIII :5 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 143 

Study XVIIL— JJattPs Arrest at ^usalem 

Fifth Day : Paul Before the Sanhedrin 

The chief captain did not understand at all the questions at issue 
between the Jews and Paul. He had been unable to scourge Paul, 
and so had failed to learn anything from the apostle himself. There- 
fore, on the day following the arrest, the chief captain brought 
Paul before the Jewish Sanhedrin. After the hearing was over, 
Paul was taken back to the castle. 

1. Read Acts 22:30. 

2. The Sanhedrin : 

(a) Who composed the Sanhedrin? See page 29, section 3. 

(b) What were the powers of this body? 

(c) Had Paul had anything to do with the Sanhedrin before 
this time? 

3. Read Acts 23:1-5. 

4. Paul's conduct toward the high priest: 

(a) The action of Ananias was illegal: John 7:51. 

(b) Ananias, the high priest (47-59 a.d.), was a man of hot 
temper, and guilty of rapacity and violence. He took tithes 
by force, robbed inferior priests of their dues, and even 
let them die of starvation. He was murdered in 59 a.d. 

(c) From Paul's apology in verse 5 it would seem that he 
did not really know that the person giving the command 
was the high priest. For the quotation which Paul gives, 
see Exodus 22 :28. 

5. Read Acts 23:6-10: 

(a) Was Paul by training and sympathy a Pharisee or a Sad- 
ducee ? 

(b) What were the beliefs of the Pharisees and the Sadducees? 

(c) Was Paul's conduct on this occasion defensible? Paul 
certainly regarded the resurrection as a fundamental doc- 
trine of the Christian religion, but was he "called in ques- 
tion of the hope and resurrection of the dead" ? Is he not 
guilty of introducing a false issue? 

(d) What light do verses 20 and 21 of Acts 24 throw on this 
point? 

Thought for the Day: Paul's conduct on this occasion seems 
not to have been altogether right. He was a human being, and liable 
to error and sin. Think what he might have done had he not been 
converted. When you are tempted to criticise Christians for their 
shortcomings, stop and think what they would be without their 
religion. 



144 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XVIII :6 

Study XVIIL— flJattl'* Arrest at ^erttsalem 

Sixth Day : The Jews Plot to Kill Paul 

During the night following Paul's hearing before the Sanhedrin 
the Lord appeared to him in a vision, and bade him be of good 
cheer. The next day more than forty Jews formed a plot to kill 
Paul ; but the plot was made known to the chief captain by Paul's 
nephew, 
i Read Acts 23:11-22. 

2. Verse 11 : 

(a) What other occasions do you recall in which Paul, when 
in danger, was reassured by a vision? 

(b) Had Paul ever planned to visit Rome? See Acts 19:21 and 
Romans 1 :n-i3. 

3. Verses 16-19: This is the only reference in the New Testament 

to Paul's sister. Whether she and her husband were Chris- 
tians, or not, cannot be known. 

(a) There can have been little secrecy on the part of the 
conspirators. 

(b) From verse 19 it would seem that the agitation of the 
young man (or boy) was so great that the chief captain 
took him by the hand to reassure him. What light does 
this throw on the character of the chief captain? 

Prayer : "O God, who seest all our weaknesses, and the troubles 
we labor under, have regard unto the prayers of Thy servant, who 
stands in need of Thy comfort, Thy direction, and Thy help. Thou 
alone knowest what is best for me ; let me never dispute Thy wis- 
dom or Thy goodness. Lord, so prepare my heart, that no affliction 
may ever so surprise as to overbear me. Dispose me at all times 
to a readiness to suffer what Thy Providence shall order or permit. 
Grant that I may never murmur at Thy appointments, nor be exas- 
perated at the administration of Thy Providence." Amen. 



XVIII 7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 145 

Study XVI 1 1.— Paul's Arrest at Jerusalem 

Seventh Day: Paul Is Sent to Cesarea 

When the chief captain had learned of the plot to kill Paul, he 
made ready an escort of soldiers, and sent Paul from Jerusalem 
to Caesarea. He dispatched, also, a letter to Felix, the Roman procu- 
\ rator of Judea, giving him an outline of Paul's case. When 
Paul reached Caesarea, Felix arranged to have a hearing as soon 
as the apostle's accusers should come. 

1. Read Acts 23 123-35. 

2. Verse 23 : The number of soldiers sent with Paul should be 

noted carefully. At this time the country was in an unsettled 
condition; there had been in the recent past uprisings and 
tumults (see Acts 5:36 and 37, and chapter 21:38); the chief 
captain may have feared, also, that the Jews would attempt to 
take Paul away from the soldiers. 

3. The letter of the chief captain, verses 26-30, merits careful 

perusal. 

(a) It was written by a Roman to a Roman, on official busi- 
ness. What language was employed? 

(b) Is verse 27 quite in accordance with the truth? 

(c) What does Claudius Lysias suppress in this letter? 

4. Verse 34: Cilicia seems at this time to have been attached for 

administrative purposes to Syria, hence the willingness of Felix 
to hear the case. 

5. Antonius Felix was appointed procurator by the Emperor Clau- 

dius, in 52 a.d. He married a Jewess, Drusilla, the daughter 
of Agrippa I, after taking her away from her husband, Azizus. 
"Felix had been a slave, and Tacitus says that he retained the 
temper of a slave after he had been set free and clothed with 
great power. He was a man of lust and blood. The only 
remedy he had for the crimes and disorders of Judea was 
force." — Gilbert. 

6. Caesarea was built by Herod the Great, and was named after 

the Emperor. Herod's palace was now the official residence of 
the Roman procurator. Here Paul was kept for two years. 
It is likely that his quarters were comfortable; after no great 
time he was given a good deal of liberty, and was allowed 
to see his friends. 
Review Thought: What event in the portion of Paul's life 

studied this week has seemed to you most significant? Review the 

opening paragraphs of the lessons of this Study. 



146 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XIX :i 

Study XIX. — $))attl Appears: before jFeltp, jFestttg, anU 

&]jrippa: pt &ppeal0 to Caesar 

First Day : Paul's Hearing Before Felix 

Five days after the hearing before the Sanhedrin, the high priest 
Ananias and the elders came to Csesarea to accuse Paul. Since 
they were unused to procedure before a Roman magistrate, they 
took with them a professional advocate, Tertullus. To-day's lesson 
contains the speech of Tertullus and Paul's reply. 

1. Read Acts 24:1-21. 

2. Tertullus was a Roman advocate, or causidicus, hired for the 

occasion. He begins his speech by complimenting Felix. 

(a) What two services does Tertullus say Felix has rendered 
the Jewish nation? 

(b) Were these statements true? What had been the attitude 
of Felix toward the Jews? See page 145, section 5. 

3. The accusation (verse 5) : 

(a) What three charges does Tertullus bring against Paul? 

(b) Were these charges true? 

4. Paul's answer to the accusation (verses 10-21) : 

(a) How does the opening of Paul's speech (verse 10) com- 
pare with that of Tertullus? 

(b) It was now the year 58 a.d. Felix became procurator in 

52 A.D. 

(c) Verse 11 : The events of the twelve days may be accounted 
for as follows : 

Day Acts 

1 Arrival at Jerusalem . . . 21:17 

2 Interview with James ... 21 :i8 

3-7 Vow and arrest 21 :26 and 27 

8 Hearing before the Sanhedrin 22 130 

9 The conspiracy 23:12 

10 Arrival at Csesarea . . . 23:33 

11-12 In custody 23:35 

13 The hearing at Csesarea . . 24:1 

5. How does Paul answer the charges of Tertullus? 

6. How do you interpret verses 20 and 21 ? Did Paul do wrong at 

the hearing before the Sanhedrin? 

Memory Verse : Memorize verse 16 of to-day's lesson. 



XIX :2 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 147 

Study XIX.— Jtetil Appears before iFcitp, jFesttta, an& 
&g;ttppa : |)e Appeals ta Csesar 

Second Day: Paul's Private Audience with Felix 
and Drusilla 

Impressed by the bearing and words of his prisoner, Felix dis- 
missed the Jews, and put Paul under the care of a centurion; he 
ordered, also, that the apostle should have liberty to see his friends. 
Some days later, Paul had a private audience with Felix and Dru- 
silla, in which he spoke with such effect that he greatly moved the 
guilty conscience of Felix. Yet Paul was kept a prisoner during 
the time of Felix's governorship. Two years later, Felix was suc- 
ceeded by Porcius Festus. 

1. Read Acts 24:22-27. 

2. Verse 10: It was now the year 58 a.d. Felix became procurator 

in 52 a.d. 

3. Verse 22: How did it happen that Felix had a "more exact 

knowledge concerning the Way"? How long had he been in 
Palestine? Who was his wife? See verse 24. 

4. Verse 23: What do you suppose it was in Paul's manner and 

bearing that led Felix to give him so much liberty? 

5. Verse 24 : Why did Felix have Paul come and speak before Dru- 

silla and himself? 

6. Verse 25 : Why did Felix tremble when Paul reasoned of "right- 

eousness, temperance, and judgment to come"? 

7. Verse 26: Why did Felix think that Paul or his friends had 

money ? 

8. How do you suppose Paul used his two years at Csesarea (verse 

27)? 

9. Verse 27: When Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, did he 

do right in leaving Paul in prison? 
Thought for the Day: "When I have a convenient season, I 
will call thee unto me." Do you ever use such words as these of 
Felix, when your conscience has been moved? Are you postponing 
until a convenient season some step that you ought to take in 
your Christian life? Are you willing to take that step to-day? 



148 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XIX 



Study XIX. — |)attl Appears! before jFelij;, Itstns, anU 

&£ttppa : pt Appeals; to Caesar 
Third Day: Paul's Hearing Before Festus 

As soon as the new procurator, Festus, had taken up the duties 
of his office, the high priest and elders reopened the case against 
St. Paul. A hearing was held at Caesarea. Festus, in order to please 
the Jews, attempted to transfer the case to the Jewish Council, 
whereupon Paul appealed to Caesar. This appeal took the matter 
entirely out of the hands of Festus. 

1. Read Acts 25:1-12. 

2. Why did Festus go to Jerusalem? 

3. What reason had the Jews to think that Festus would grant the 

request of verses 2 and 3? 

4. This request came from the most important men in Jerusalem. 

It is to the credit of Festus that he refused to do as they 
wished; he may have known that they were planning to kill 
Paul. 

5. Judging from verse 8, what charges were brought against Paul? 

Compare this verse with Acts 24:12. What new charge do 
Paul's accusers put forward? 

6. Verse 9 : The charges brought against Paul could not be proved ; 

therefore, Paul should have been released. But Felix had been 
impressed with the vehemence of Paul's accusers (see verse 7), 
and was not unmindful of the fact that they were the chief 
men of Jerusalem ; hence he proposed that which he had prev- 
iously refused — to send Paul to Jerusalem. 

7. Verses 10 and 11: Paul had the right, as a Roman citizen, to 

claim exemption from the jurisdiction of the Jewish Sanhedrin. 
The Roman procurator had just attempted to throw Paul's case 
back into the hands of the Sanhedrin, hence Paul's appeal to 
Caesar. 

8. Proconsuls, propraetors, and procurators administered justice in 

the Roman provinces. A Roman citizen might appeal from 
their decision to Caesar. 

9. Which one of the Roman Emperors ruled at this time (60 a.d.), 

and what was his character? 
Paul's Respect for Authority: Read Titus 3:1 and 1 Timothy 
2:1 and 2. 



XIX :4 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 149 

Study XIX. — flattl Appears before Itlij:, JFegtttsi, an* 
&g;rtppa : pt Appeals to Caesar 

Fourth Day: Paul Appears Before Agrippa 

After Paul had appealed to Caesar, he remained in prison at 
Caesarea, waiting to be sent to Rome. Meanwhile, Agrippa, King 
of Galilee and the region east of the Jordan, came to pay an official 
visit to Festus. During the course of this visit Paul was brought 
before Agrippa for an informal hearing. 

1. Read Acts 25:13-27. 

2. Agrippa, known accurately as Agrippa II, was the great-grandson 

of Herod the Great. He was the last of the Herod family 
celebrated in history. Bernice was his sister. 

3. Josephus, the Jewish historian, records the fact that Agrippa 

displayed great anxiety to stand well with Roman governors. 
Festus had just entered upon his office, consequently Agrippa 
came to pay his first official visit. 

4. Verses 14-21 : Festus detailed Paul's case to Agrippa, hoping 

that he would be able to suggest what charges should be sent 
to the Emperor. 

5. Verse 23 : "The Herods were fond of show, and Festus gratified 

their humor by a grand processional display. He would doubt- 
less appear in his scarlet paludament, with his full attendance 
of lictors and bodyguards, who would stand at arms behind 
the gilded chairs which were placed for himself and his dis- 
tinguished visitors. We are expressly told that Agrippa and 
Bernice went in state to the Praetorium, she, doubtless, blazing 
in all her jewels, and he in his purple robes, and both with 
the golden circlets of royalty around their foreheads, and at- 
tended by a suite of followers in the most gorgeous apparel of 
Eastern pomp." — Canon Farrar. 

6. Verse 26 : Why was Festus anxious to have Agrippa listen to 

Paul? See Acts 26:2 and 3. 

7. Verses 26 and 27: The governor had to send to the Emperor, 

along with the accused man, an elogium, or statement of the 
crime. It is to this elogium that Festus refers in these verses. 

8. This hearing before Agrippa was not a judicial trial; the case 

was no longer under the jurisdiction of Festus — it belonged 
to the Emperor. 



150 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XIX :s 

Study XIX.— JJattl Appears before jFeitj;, §t&tm, antt 
&Srippa : pt Appeals to Caesar 

Fifth Day: Paul's Speech Before Agrippa 

At the informal hearing before Agrippa, Paul delivered a speech 
in which he gave an account of his life and labors. This speech 
may be divided into two parts. The first part, which contains in 
brief the story of his life until his conversion, will be the subject 
of to-day's lesson. 

1. Read Acts 26:1-11. 

2. What promise of the Lord was fulfilled by Paul's appearance 

before Agrippa? See Acts 9:13-15. 

3. Verses 2 and 3: Observe how tactfully Paul begins his speech. 

Compare with this, Acts 24:10. 

4. In verses 6-8, Paul says that the Jews accused him for teaching 

that Jesus was the Messiah, and that He rose from the dead. 
Yet the charges of the Jews, as given in Acts 25 :8, are that he 
taught against the Law of Moses, that he profaned the temple, 
and that he stirred up opposition to Caesar. Paul is now speak- 
ing of the underlying reason for the hostility of the Jews. 

5. Verse 10: The R.V. reads, "I gave my vote against them." 

To what body did Paul belong before his conversion, if he 
had the power of voting against those who were heretics from 
the Jewish point of view? 

6. Verse 11: What verses can you cite to show how Paul perse- 

cuted the Christians "even unto foreign cities"? 

7. How did Paul's persecution of the Christians directly help the 

spread of the Gospel? 
Prayer: "We humbly beseech Thee, O heavenly Father, to do 
away as the night all our transgressions, and to scatter our sins 
as the morning cloud. Lord, forgive whatsoever is amiss in us, 
cleanse us from our sin, and let Thy Holy Spirit so go before and 
accompany and follow us day by day, that we may believe in Thee, 
and love Thee, and keep Thy commandments, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord." Amen. 



XIX :6 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 151 

Study XIX.— Jktti Appears before Jelt£, Jestus, ana 
&£rippa : j)e Appeals to Caesar 

Sixth Day: Paul's Speech Before Agrippa (Con- 
tinued) 

In the second part of his speech, Paul tells of his conversion and 
of his activity as a Christian preacher. 

1. Read Acts 26:12-23. 

2. Verses 12 to 18 contain an account of Paul's conversion. You 

have already studied two accounts of this event. Where may 
they be found? 

3. Verse 14: This verse contains two statements not found in the 

preceding accounts of Paul's conversion: that Jesus spoke to 
Paul in Hebrew (Aramaic), and that He said, "It is hard 
for thee to kick against the goad" (R.V.). 

4. From this use of the figure of an ox kicking against the goad, 

what do you infer concerning Paul's inward condition just 
before his conversion? 

5. This is the first appearance of Jesus to Paul (verse 15). For 

other appearances, see Acts 18:9; 22:17 and 18; 2 Cor. 12:1-4; 
and Acts 23:11. How did these visions enable Paul to answer 
the charge of his enemies that he was not a true apostle? 

6. Verse 20: In what Gentile lands had Paul preached? 

7. Who are meant by "the people" of verse 23? 

Thought for To-day: Have you ever discovered the truth of 
the statement that "it is hard to kick against the pricks"? Are 
you, at the present time, resisting God's will, or refusing to do some 
duty that you ought to perform? 

Prayer: "O Lord, give me grace, by constant obedience to offer 
up my will and my heart as an acceptable sacrifice unto Thee." 
Amen. 



152 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XIX 7 

Study XIX. — JJattI Stppeata before jFeltjc, jFestttg, an* 
^Iffrippa : |)e Appeals to Caesar 
Seventh Day: Paul's Speech Before Agrippa (Con- 
cluded) 

Much that Paul said was unintelligible to Festus, who finally inter- 
rupted him by saying that his mind was unbalanced. Paul then 
turned to King Agrippa and appealed to him as to the truth of 
his statements. Agrippa answered Paul with a flippant reply, where- 
upon the hearing terminated. 

1. Read Acts 26:24-32. 

2. Remembering that Festus was a Roman, recently come to Pales- 

tine, what parts of Paul's speech do you think he would fail 
to understand? 

3. The word translated "learning" (verse 24) is the same word 

which is rendered "letters" in John 7:14-16. Festus evidently 
regards Paul as a religious fanatic, crazed by poring over the 
Scriptures. 

4. In verse 26, what does Paul mean by saying, "this hath not been 

done in a corner"? See John 12:19 and Acts 17:6. 

5. The words of Agrippa in verse 28 have generally been misinter- 

preted and misunderstood ; this is due to the fact that they 
are incorrectly translated in the A.V. The A.V. reads, "Almost 
thou persuadest me to be a Christian." The R.V. is nearer 
the original Greek: "With but little persuasion thou wouldst 
fain make me a Christian." Paul had just said, in verses 22 
and 23, that the death and resurrection of Christ were foretold 
by the prophets. Turning then to Agrippa, he asked : "King 
Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou be- 
lievest." The inference is, of course, that if Agrippa believed 
the prophets, he ought also to believe that Jesus was the 
Messiah promised by them. This inference Agrippa dismissed 
with the half-jesting, if not contemptuous, reply: "You are 
trying with little trouble, and in a short time, to make me a 
Christian." 

6. Observe the serious turn which Paul gives to the words of 

Agrippa as he replies : "I would to God, that whether with 
little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me 
this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds." 

(R.V.) 
The Name Christian : What was the origin of the name Chris- 
tian? What does James say of this name? See James 2:7. 



XX :i Studies in the Life of St. Paul 153 

Study XX. — J3aul is i?ent to Kome: Ipis $opa<je anH 
Js>!)tptotec& 

First Day: From C^esarea to Fair Havens in Crete 

When it was decided to send Paul to Rome, he and other pris- 
oners were put on board a vessel that left Csesarea late in the sum- 
mer or early in the autumn of 60 a.d. Owing to adverse winds, the 
sailors were obliged to alter their course and run for safety into 
a harbor on the south side of Crete. 

1. Read Acts 27:1-8. 

2. Why was Paul sent to Rome? 

3. The merchant ships of the ancients were different from modern 

sailing vessels in several important respects. Prow and stern 
were practically alike ; there was one mast, carrying a huge, 
square sail ; and there were two paddle-like rudders, which 
were not hinged like those of modern ships, but were loose, 
and could be lifted out of the water and lashed fast. The 
single mast, with its large sail, concentrated upon the hull a 
great strain whenever there was a strong wind, hence when 
a storm arose there was danger that the timbers would part. 
At such times, undergirders were used — cables which were 
passed around the hull to hold the planks together. 

4. What indication do you find in these verses that Luke was with 

Paul? 

5. Locate Adramyttium. What previous mention has been made 

of Aristarchus? Acts 19:29 and 20:4. 

6. Sidon lay on the road between Jerusalem and Antioch, 67 miles 

from Caesarea. Had Paul ever been in Sidon? 

7. What led Julius to treat Paul with so much consideration (verse 

3) ? Why did Paul need to "refresh himself" or "receive atten- 
tion" (R.V. margin) at Sidon? 

8. A vessel sailing from Sidon to Adramyttium would naturally 

pass to the west of Cyprus (see map). But the wind blew 
from the west or northwest, so that Paul's ship sailed under 
the lee — that is, to the east of Cyprus — and then took advantage 
of the current and the land breezes of Cilicia and Pamphylia 
to reach Myra. Locate Myra. 

9. Verses 6 and 7: The strong west or northwest wind still con- 

tinued to blow. The ship of Alexandria had probably been 
forced from its course by it. On account of this same wind the 
ship now has difficulty in going from Myra to Cnidos, and is 
obliged to run to the southwest, under the lee of Crete, into 
Fair Havens. 



154 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XX :2 

Study XX. — JJatti is ^>ent to Eome : JUs Eopage anfc 

Second Day : Departure from Crete : A Storm Arises 

After the delay in Crete, the season had come in which navigation 
was dangerous. As Fair Havens was an unsuitable harbor in 
which to winter, an attempt was made to reach Phoenix, in south- 
western Crete, but a violent northeast wind drove them away from 
the island, off toward the southwest. 

1. Read Acts 27:9-19. 

2. Verse 9: The Fast was the Jewish Day of Atonement, which 

was observed about the first of October. In ancient times the 
period favorable to navigation in the Mediterranean extended 
from March to October. From October until spring the sky 
was obscured much of the time, so that the stars could not be 
observed. It should be remembered that there were no com- 
passes, quadrants, or sextants in those days. 

3. What perils had Paul already experienced upon the sea? See 

2 Cor. 11 125. 

4. Verse 12: Phoenix (or Phenice) was about forty miles west of 

Fair Havens. The R.V. gives the proper translation of the 
original — u a haven of Crete looking northeast and southeast," 
or freely, "a haven looking down along the southwest wind 
{Lips) and the northwest wind (Choros)." 

5. Verses 13 and 14: The south wind was Notus; Euraquilo (verse 

14) was the northeast wind. The wind suddenly shifted from 
the south to the northeast, and became what Luke calls a 
"typhonic wind," for such is the meaning of the word rendered 
in the R.V. as "tempestuous." 

6. Verse 15 : The ship was driven to the southwest under Cauda 

(A. V., Clauda). Cauda is twenty miles from Cape Matala, off 
Crete. 

7. Verse 16 : The ship's boat had been towed behind until now. 

8. Verse 17: Why did the sailors undergird the ship? The Syrtis 

(quicksands, A.V.) is the Syrtis Major of Africa, off to the 
southwest, filled with sandbars and shoals. 

9. Verses 17-19: The R.V. gives the best translation: "They low- 

ered the gear, and so were driven. And as we labored exceed- 
ingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw the 
freight overboard ; and the third day they cast out with their 
own hands the tackling [furniture] of the ship." 
A Storm at Sea: Read verses 23 to 31 of the 107th Psalm. 



XX -.3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 155 

Study XX. — $attl is ^>eitt to Eome: pis Eopap anil 

i£>I)tptoro!t 

Third Day: The Storm Continues: Paul's Vision: 

They Near Land 

The violence of the storm still continued. After some days Paul 
had a vision in which he was assured that the lives of none on board 
should be lost. At the end of the second week, the vessel neared 
land about midnight. The sailors cast out four anchors, and waited 
for day. 

1. Read Acts 27:20-32. 

2. Why was the absence of sun and stars a serious misfortune (verse 

20) ? Why had they been a long time without food (verse 21) ? 

3. Paul's vision : 

(a) Compare verse 22 with verse 10. Does Paul make the 
statement in verse 10 by inspiration or on his own author- 
ity and judgment? 

(b) Beginning with the first chapter of Acts, what part do 
angels play in the history of the Christian Church? See 
Acts 5:19; 8:26; 10:3; 12:7-10. 

(c) Verse 24 : How do you interpret the words, "God hath 
granted thee all them that sail with thee"? 

4. The approach to land : 

(a) The Sea of Adria : That part of the Mediterranean be- 
tween Crete and Sicily was sometimes loosely designated as 
"the Sea of Adria." 

(b) Why did the sailors surmise that land was near? 

5. Verses 30-32 : Paul was not heeded when he gave the advice 

contained in verse 10. Why do the centurion and soldiers 

obey him so readily now? 
Paul as a Leader : "A ship is a kind of miniature of the world. 
It is a floating island, in which there are the government and the 
governed. But the government is like that of states, liable to sudden 
social upheavals, in which the ablest man is thrown to the top. This 
was a voyage of extreme perils, which required the utmost presence 
of mind and power of winning the confidence and obedience of those 
on board. Before it was ended Paul was virtually both the captain 
of the ship and the general of the soldiers; and all on board owed 
him their lives." — Stalker. 



156 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XX :4 

Study XX. — JJattl is §btnt to Eotne: |)ia Socage an* 

Fourth Day: The Ship Goes to Pieces: All the Men 
Reach Land 

In the morning the sailors raised the anchors, and attempted to 
run the ship ashore. The ship grounded where two currents met, 
and was quickly battered to pieces by the waves. The men, on bits 
of wreckage and by swimming, reached the land. 

1. Read Acts 27:33-44. 

2. Verse 35 : "In the sight of the heathen soldiers and sailors, Paul 

broke the bread in solemn thanksgiving, and thus converted the 
whole into a religious act, which can hardly have been without 
its influence on the minds of some, at all events, of those who 
had heard St. Paul's previous words about the revelation which 
God had made to him." — Lumby. 

3. Verse 36: Paul's reassuring manner and words of good cheer 

were contagious: the men caught his hopeful spirit. 

4. Why did they lighten the ship still further (verse 38) ? 

5. St. Paul's Bay, in Malta, is pointed out as the scene of Paul's 

landing. Close inshore is a small island called Salmonetta. 
Between this island and the shore is a strong current that has 
formed a mudbank. Here the ship grounded at a point where 
the current met the waves of the sea. The ship was still a 
short distance from the land, hence the men had to swim. 

6. Verse 42 : A Roman soldier might forfeit his own life, if he lost a 

prisoner. 

7. Verse 43 : What favors had the centurion already granted Paul ? 

Why did he grant them? 

"The calm, the breeze, the gale, the storm. 
The ocean and the land, 
All, all are Thine, and held within 
The hollow of Thy hand. 

"Across this troubled tide of life 

Thyself our pilot be, 
Until we reach that better land, 
The land that knows no sea." 

— Edward A. Dayman. 



XX :5 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 157 

Study XX. — Jtetti is i>ent to Home : ^ts Sopage anU 

H>i)ipiorecit 

Fifth Day: The Landing on Malta: Paul Bitten 

by a Viper 

When the men from the wrecked vessel had reached land, they 
found it to be the island of Melita (the modern Malta). While 
gathering wood for a fire, Paul was bitten by a viper. The natives 
were surprised that he suffered no harm therefrom, and concluded 
that he was a god. 

1. Read Acts 28:1-6. 

2. Verse 1 : Melita of this narrative is now generally believed to be 

Malta, an island 17% miles long by 9% miles wide, about 60 
miles south of Sicily. It was a Roman possession, with the 
rights of a municipium, and belonged to the province of Sicily. 

3. Verse 2: 

(a) 'The barbarians": The word barbarians (Greek fiapfiapoi) 
was used by the Greeks as the designation of all those 
who did not speak Greek and were destitute of Greek 
culture. Judging from the presence of the word in this 
verse, Luke, the writer of Acts, must have been a Greek. 
It should also be remembered that he was a physician and 
a man of no little education. 

(b) The men of Melita were descendants of a Phoenician 
colony; perhaps they had come from Carthage. 

4. Verse 3 : Observe that Paul helps the barbarians gather firewood ; 

Paul, wherever he might be, was always energetically and ac- 
tively engaged in helping others. 

5. Verse 4: 

(a) The fact that there are now no vipers in Malta does not 
prove that there were none eighteen hundred years ago. 

(b) The barbarians knew that Paul was a prisoner, and so 
thought that he was surely a criminal. 

6. Verse 5 : Of what promise of Jesus is this verse a fulfilment? 

See Mark 16:17 and 18. Paul may have had this saying of 
Jesus in mind ; possibly also the promise of Acts 27 124. 

7. When and where before this occasion was Paul regarded as a 

god? 



158 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XX :6 

Study XX.— fjattl is ^>ettt to Eouie: |)ts; ©opage anU 

H>!riptoredt 
Sixth Day: Paul Works Miracles in Malta 

During the winter season of three months which the shipwrecked 
men spent in Malta, Paul wrought many miracles. Consequently, 
when Paul was about to leave the island, the natives gave him and 
his companions many gifts. 

1. Read Acts 28:7-10. 

2. The Greek word translated "the chief man," in verse 7, seems to 

have been an official title. An inscription has been found in 
Malta in which a certain Roman is designated in the same 
way. Publius may have been the governor of Malta, serving 
as deputy to the praetor of Sicily. 

3. Verse 7: What other instances of this sort do you recall in 

which men of wealth or official position were kind to Paul? 
What was it about Paul that led them to treat him with so 
much favor? 

4. During the three months of his stay in Malta is it likely that 

Paul did anything else besides heal the sick? 

5. Mark Malta with a cross upon your outline map. 

6. Tradition asserts that Publius was the first bishop of Malta. 

7. Verse 10 : Special marks of honor and esteem were given to 

Paul and his friends. When the whole party of men left the 
island, all of the soldiers and sailors profited from their asso- 
ciation with Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus. 
Lesson Thought : Paul began to serve others as soon as he 
landed on the island of Malta, and he continued to do good through- 
out his stay. Malta, compared with Macedonia, Greece, or Asia, was 
a humble field in which to labor, yet the apostle found plenty to do. 
Do you try to be useful in helping others even when you are among 
the lowly, and when you are in the unattractive and least inviting 
places? 



XX 7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 159 

Study XX— JJaul is §>ent to Koine: J)td Eopap an* 

iblnptoredt 

Seventh Day: From Malta to Rome 

The centurion and his prisoners remained in Malta three months. 
Now that the season for navigation was open, they sailed to Italy, 
landed at Puteoli, and went overland to Rome. At Rome, Paul 
was allowed to have a lodging by himself, though chained constantly 
to a Roman soldier. 

1. Read Acts 28:11-16. 

2. Verse 11: It was now early spring, in the year 61 a.d., and the 

ship of Alexandria resumed its course to Italy. Its figureheads 
were images of the Twin Brothers, Castor and Pollux, who, in 
ancient mythology, were the sons of Zeus and Leda. They 
were thought to favor sailors in their voyages. Castor and 
Pollux were identified with the constellation called Gemini — 
one of the signs of the zodiac. 

3. Verse 12 : Undoubtedly there were Jews at Syracuse. Tradition 

says that Paul founded a church there. Mark Syracuse with a 
cross. 

4. Verse 13 : Locate Rhegium and Puteoli. Puteoli, in the Bay of 

Naples, was one of the great ports of Rome. Near by were 
many of the fashionable watering-places of Rome. In plain 
view, also, was Vesuvius, which a few years later (79 a.d.) 
broke forth and consumed Pompeii and Herculaneum. 

5. Apparently the party did tarry seven days at Puteoli (verse 14). 

How do you account for the presence of Christian brethren at 
Puteoli ? 

6. Meanwhile news had reached Rome that Paul was coming. 

(a) What communication had Paul previously had with the 
Roman Christians? 

(b) Note that in the sixteenth chapter of Romans, Paul sends 
personal greetings to no less than twenty-seven members 
of the Church at Rome. Many of these may have been 
earlier converts of his in the East. 

7. Locate the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns. The former 

is 40 miles from Rome, the latter 30. The devotion of the 
men who came as far as these places to meet him greatly 
cheered Paul. 

8. Verse 16: Julius, the centurion, was probably the one who se- 

cured this concession for Paul. How long had Julius known 
Paul ? Paul often alludes to his "bonds," meaning the chain 
by which he was bound to the soldiers who guarded him. 



PART VIII 

Paul's Imprisonment and Death at Rome 

Study XXI. — Two Years in Prison at Rome 
Study XXII. — Paul's Last Travels, Second Imprisonment, and 
Death 



161 



XXI :i Studies in the Life of St. Paul 163 

Study XXL — Ctoo gears in prison at Eome 
First Day: Paul Calls Together the Chief Jews of 

Rome 

Three days after his arrival at Rome, Paul called together the 
chief officers of the Jewish synagogues of the city. He did this 
that he might, by a conference with them, both clear himself of 
unjust suspicion, and also assure them that he was not seeking to 
involve the Jews in trouble with the Romans. 

1. Read Acts 28:17-22. 

2. Verse 17: 

(a) How would Paul naturally spend these first three days? 

(b) How had the Christian Church at Rome come into exist- 
ence? See page 128. 

(c) Were these chief men of the Jews Christians? See verses 
21 and 22. 

(d) Many Jews had been carried to Rome as slaves by Pompey. 
Most of them were freed at a later time, and some of them 
even became Roman citizens. They were a wealthy and 
important class in the population of the city; they had 
seven synagogues ; and they occupied a quarter on the 
west bank of the Tiber. 

3. Verses 17-20: "St. Paul shows himself the patriotic Jew. He 

knew how many things his fellow-countrymen had suffered at 
the hands of the Roman power, and he did not wish in any 
way to bring on them more trouble. He therefore explains 
that he had taken the course of appealing to Caesar only because 
he saw no other means of obtaining his release. If that were 
secured he wished to lay no charge at the door of his accusers 
or their brethren in Rome." — Lumby. 

4. What information does verse 22 give concerning the spread and 

influence of the Christian Church? 

5. The Jews at Rome did not appear at all hostile to Paul, nor did 

they seem anxious to prosecute him. It was only a few years 
after the repeal of the edict of Claudius banishing the Jews 
from Rome ; probably they were loath to become again involved 
in religious controversies and tumults. 



164 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXI .2. 

Study XXL— Ctoo gears in JJtteon at Eome 
Second Day: Paul Preaches to the Chief Jews of 

Rome 

In their first interview with Paul the chief Jews of Rome desired 
him to explain the beliefs of the Christians. Accordingly, on an 
appointed day they assembled in the house in which Paul was stay- 
ing. All day long Paul preached to them concerning the Kingdom 
of God. 

1. Read Acts 28:23-29. 

2. Verse 23 : 

(a) The R.V. has "in great number"; better still, it might be 
rendered, "they came to him into his lodging in greater 
numbers" (than before). 

(b) Paul was probably lodging in the house of a Christian. 
Some think it may have been the home of Aquila and 
Priscilla. 

(c) "From morning till evening." On what occasion did Paul 
preach all night? See Acts 20:7-11. 

3. Verses 25-27: Verify this quotation, which may be found in the 

sixth chapter of Isaiah. 

4. Verse 28 contains the last words of St. Paul which Luke records. 

It is significant that they were spoken concerning the pub- 
lishing of the Gospel to the Gentiles. It had been Paul's prac- 
tice to preach to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles; his 
work at Rome opens in the same way. See also Romans 1:16. 

5. Verse 29 : This verse, which is not found in the R.V., is given 

in the A.V. as follows : "And when he had said these words, 

the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves." 

Some of the ancient manuscripts contain the verse, others do 

not. The best manuscripts agree in omitting it. 

Lesson Thought: The despised Gentiles (the Greeks and 

Romans) were more willing to accept the Gospel than were the 

proud and exclusive Jews. Are some of your acquaintances, on 

whom you may look with condescension, if not with contempt, 

more willing to receive and live the Gospel than you are? Does 

such pride and self-will become you? 



XXI :3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 165 

Study XXL— (Eton gears! in JJuson at Eome 

Third Day : Paul's Manner of Life at Rome 

During his imprisonment at Rome, Paul was treated with great 
consideration ; though chained constantly to a Roman soldier, he 
was allowed to live in his own hired house and receive his friends 
and any other men who might wish to visit him. He also preached 
the Kingdom of God with all boldness. At this time, too, he wrote 
several epistles, which are preserved. 

1. Read Acts 28:30 and 31. 

2. Verse 30 : Where did Paul get the money with which to hire a 

house? In the epistles of this period he says nothing about 
working at his trade : in fact, it is unlikely that he did so labor 
while chained to a Roman soldier. Money, too, would be re- 
quired to carry his appeal up to Caesar : there would be lawyers' 
fees and other expenses. Possibly Paul may have inherited 
property from his father at this time, or may have had rich and 
powerful friends who provided for him. Paul always moved 
and acted like a man accustomed to high social position. He 
appeared on terms of equality with Roman governors, praetors, 
and centurions, and was unabashed in the presence of King 
Agrippa. 

3. Paul was a prisoner at Rome during the years 61-63 a.d. Who 

was the Roman Emperor at that time, and what was his char- 
acter? 

4. Paul was chained constantly to a soldier of the Praetorian guard. 

These guards relieved one another at intervals. Many a rough 
soldier would hear Paul as he preached and taught the Gospel, 
and would then go back to the barracks and repeat what he 
had heard. Some of these men were converted : see Philippians 
1:12 and 13 (R.V.) ; the word "palace" (A.V.) should be 
"Praetorium" or "Praetorian guard." 

5. Paul's case was delayed for two years. Such delays were in- 

evitable ; much would depend on a mere whim of the Em- 
peror; his officers, too, doubtless hoped to get presents of 
money before introducing the appeal. 
Lesson Thought: "Preaching . . . with all boldness, none 
forbidding him." Truly an astonishing outcome for a prisoner of 
the Gospel. What English writer, likewise a prisoner because of 
his religion, wrote a book that has influenced and helped millions 
of people ? 



1 66 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXI -.4 



Study XXL— ^too gears; in prison at Some 

Fourth Day : The Epistle to the Philippians 

Luke's account of Paul's life and work ends with the verses 
studied yesterday. The remaining events of his life can be learned 
only from certain statements concerning himself which he makes 
in his epistles. During his imprisonment he wrote four epistles that 
are preserved. The first of these is his Epistle to the Philippians. 

1. When did Paul first visit Philippi? What were some of the 

incidents of the visit? How many times did he visit Philippi 
subsequently ? 

2. The Church at Philippi had always been dear to Paul's heart. 

They had sent him gifts of money while he was at Thessa- 
lonica on his second missionary journey. During Paul's im- 
prisonment, the Philippians sent Epaphroditus to him with a 
present. While in Rome, Epaphroditus was ill. When able 
to return to Philippi, he carried with him The Epistle to the 
Philippians. 

THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 

3. Paul's Affection for the Philippians : 

(a) He longs to see them: Phil. 1:7 and 8. 

(b) His gratitude for their kindness to him: Phil. 4:10-18. 

4. Glimpses of Paul : 

(a) His influence felt throughout the Praetorian guard: Phil. 
1:12-14. Also in Caesar's household: Phil. 4:22. 

(b) Some Jewish Christians are trying to injure him: Phil. 
1 : 16-19. 

(c) Weary of imprisonment, he sometimes longs to die and 
be with Christ: Phil. 1:21-24. 

(d) He plans to send Timothy to Philippi: Phil. 2:19-23. 

(e) Paul hopes to visit the Philippians soon himself: Phil. 
2 :24. He sends Epaphroditus : 2 :25, 28 and 29. 

A Summary: Read Paul's review of his own career and estimate 
of his spiritual condition: Philippians 3:4-14. 



XXI :5 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 167 

Study XXL— &too pears in prison at Eome 

Fifth Day : The Epistle to the Colossians 

The second of the four letters, written while Paul was a prisoner 
at Rome, was The Epistle to the Colossians. This letter seems to 
have been called forth by the appearance of errors in the Church, 
due to the teaching of certain Jews, and to the introduction of false 
philosophical doctrines which tended to rob Christ of His position as 
the Head of the Church and the Saviour of men. 

1. Colossse was a city of Phrygia, on the Lycus River, twenty miles 

from the Mseander. Locate Colossse, and mark it on your out- 
line map with a cross. 

2. Was Paul ever in Colossse? See Colossians 2:1. 

3. For possible founders of the Colossian Church, see Col. 1 '.7 ; 

4:12; and 4:17. 

THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS 

4. Paul's Relation to the Church: 

(a) His affection for them: Col. 1:3 and 4. 

(b) He has learned about them from Epaphras : Col. 1 7 and 8. 

5. Doctrinal Part: 

(a) Solemn warning against the danger of false philosophy and 
Jewish teaching: Col. 2:8-23. 

6. Hortatory Part: 

(a) Practical advice for Christian living: Col. 3:12-17. 

7. Salutations and Personal Matters : 

(a) Tychicus probably bore the letter to Colossse: Col. 4:7 
and 8. 

(b) Who were with Paul at this time? Col. 4:10-14 and 1:1. 

(c) What other letter, now lost, was probably sent at this 
time? See Col. 4:16. 

(d) Paul's salutation. Read Col. 4:18. Why does Paul add 
this autograph salutation? See page 108, section 4. 

Memory Verse: Memorize Colossians 3:17. 



1 68 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXI :6 

Study XXL— Ctoo gears in prison at &ome 

Sixth Day : The Epistle to Philemon 

When Tychicus carried to Colossse The Epistle to the Colossians, 
he was accompanied by Onesimus. Onesimus was a runaway slave 
belonging to Philemon of Colossae. When Onesimus ran away from 
Colossse he came to Rome, and there fell under the influence of 
Paul and was converted. To restore this slave to the favor of his 
master, Paul wrote his Epistle to Philemon. It is the briefest of 
Paul's letters ; it contains no doctrinal matter, but is simply a letter 
from one Christian gentleman to another on a subject requiring no 
little tact, 
i. Tychicus and Onesimus left Rome together for Colossse. In the 

Epistle to the Colossians, Paul specially commends Onesimus. 

The letter would, of course, be read publicly in the church, and 

all the Colossians would know of the change in the character 

of Onesimus. See Col. 4:7-9 and 4:16. 

2. Read the entire Epistle to Philemon. 

3. Verse 2 : Apphia was possibly the wife of Philemon. Archippus 

was evidently a member of the family, perhaps the son or 
brother of Philemon. See also Col. 4:17. 

4. Verses 8-14: Observe with what tact Paul asks this favor of 

Philemon. 

5. Verse 9: "Paul the aged." How old was Paul at this time? 

See page 10. 

6. Verses 10 and 11: The name Onesimus means "profitable." 

Paul puns on his name; the verses might be rendered: "I be- 
seech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, 
Profitable, who was aforetime Unprofitable to thee, but now 
profitable to thee and to me." 

7. What light do verses 19 and 22 throw on Paul's fortunes at. this 

time? See also page 165, section 2. 

8. Paul now expects liberation : See verse 22. 

9. Observe that those who send greetings, verses 23 and 24, are the 

same (with one exception) as those who send greetings at the 

close of The Epistle to the Colossians. 
"The Epistle to Philemon has been described as the letter of a 
Christian gentleman, animated by strong Christian feeling, tempered 
with discretion, and expressed with dignity and moderation not un- 
touched with humour." — McClymont. 



XXI 7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 169 

Study XXI. — Ctoo gears in JJrisan at Eame 

Seventh Day : The Epistle to the Ephesians 

The Epistle to the Ephesians was probably a general epistle sent 
to a number of churches in Asia Minor. Three of the best manu- 
scripts of the New Testament do not have the words "at Ephesus" 
in chapter 1, verse 1. This, coupled with the fact that the letter has 
no personal references and greetings, has led to the belief given 
above. When copies of this letter were made for the individual 
churches, the name of the church was inserted in chapter 1, verse 1. 

1. The Epistle to the Ephesians was written at the same time as 

Colossians and Philemon. In Col. 4 :y-g Paul says he is send- 
ing Tychicus to Colossae ; in Ephesians 6 :2i and 22, he says he 
is sending Tychicus to Ephesus (or Asia). Compare especially 
Col. 4 :g and Eph. 6 122. 

2. Tychicus seems to have been the bearer of this epistle as well as 

The Epistle to the Colossians. Onesimus probably carried The 
Epistle to Philemon. 

THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 

"It has been said by Coleridge that this is one of the divinest 
compositions of man. It embraces every doctrine of Christianity; 
first, those doctrines peculiar to Christianity; secondly, those pre- 
cepts common to it with natural religion. . . . The first half of 
the Epistle is, for the most part, a hymn of praise for the grace of 
God, manifested according to His good pleasure which He purposed 
in Himself — accompanied with the apostle's prayer for his readers 
that they may realize the glory of their calling. ... In the 
second part the apostle descends by a swift and beautiful transition 
to the duties of common life: T therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, 
beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were 
called' (4:1). . . . Finally there is a stirring call to put on the 
whole armor of God for the conflict with the powers of evil — a 
metaphor which may have been suggested to Paul by his military 
surroundings at Rome." — McClymont. 

3. Read Ephesians 6:10-18. 

Paul's Sublime Prayer: Read slowly and carefully Ephesians 
3:14-21, and try to realize what it meant to Paul to write those 
words. Pray, too, that this prayer may be laden with meaning to 
you as well. 



170 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXII :i 

Study XXIL— JJattrs; Last Cratoete, H>ecotUi 3Tmprisiotiment, 
aafc SDeat!) 

First Day: Paul's Last Travels 

Paul's first imprisonment in Rome lasted two years. During that 
time he wrote the four epistles recently studied : Philip pians, Co- 
lossians, Philemon, and Ephesians. From the three epistles which 
yet remain for study — First Timothy, Titus, and Second Timothy — 
it is possible to learn something about Paul's last travels and about 
his second imprisonment that ended in his death. 

The order of the closing events in Paul's life is extremely un- 
certain. The arrangement given in to-day's lesson is substantially 
that contained in Professor Burton's Records and Letters of the 
Apostolic Age, pages 225, 226. 

1. Paul expected to be released from prison and to visit Macedonia 

and Asia : Philippians 2 124 and Philemon 22. 

2. He may have gone to Spain: St. Chrysostom (347-407 a.d.) de- 

clares that St. Paul, after his residence in Rome, departed to 
Spain. It was Paul's intention to visit Spain: see Romans 
15 :24-28. 

3. He returned to the East, and visited Ephesus, where he left 

Timothy in charge : 1 Tim. 1 '.3. 

4. He went into Macedonia. While there he wrote his First Epistle 

to Timothy. 

5. He went from Macedonia to Asia, stopping at Troas, where he 

left a cloak and some books: 2 Tim. 4:13. From Troas he 
journeyed to Miletus, where he left Trophimus: 2 Tim. 4:20. 

6. From Miletus he went to Crete, where he left Titus : Titus 1 :5. 

7. From Crete he went to Corinth, where he left Erastus (2 Tim. 

4:20), and thence probably wrote his Epistle- to Titus. 

8. From Corinth he went to Nicopolis (Titus 3:12). Here he was 

arrested, and sent hence to Rome. 

9. In Rome he wrote The Second Epistle to Timothy, and was be- 

headed under Nero in 65 a.d. 



XXII :2 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 171 

Study XXII.— $mV& Last Cratoels, ^econti imprisonment, 

an* 3Deatf) 

Second Day: Paul's First Epistle to Timothy 

Among the places that Paul visited after his release from prison 
was the city of Ephesus. Here he left Timothy in charge of the 
Church, and departed for Macedonia. While in Macedonia the 
apostle wrote the letter known as The First Epistle to Timothy. 

1. What was Timothy's native city? Who were his parents? See 

Acts 16:1 and 2 Timothy 1:5. 

2. To whom was the conversion of Timothy due ? See 1 Tim. 1 :2. 

3. Timothy accompanied Paul on his second and third missionary 

journeys. He was also with the apostle at Rome. When Paul 
wrote to the Philippians, he purposed to send Timothy to them. 
Read Philippians 2:19-22. When Paul came east from Rome, 
he may have found Timothy at Ephesus. 

4. Paul was in Macedonia when he wrote his First Epistle to Tim- 

othy: 1 Tim. 1:3 and 4; he expected to revisit Ephesus in the 
near future: 1 Tim. 3:14 and 15, but fearing that he might 
be hindered, he wrote this letter of instructions to Timothy. 

THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY 

5. Paul's cares were increasing daily. The Church was growing 

rapidly and gaining in importance ; questions of organization 
and of Church government were in need of settlement ; false 
doctrines of two general classes were noticeable : Judaistic 
teaching concerning the Law of Moses as essential to faith; 
and teaching of an obscure character, involving Greek and 
Oriental philosophy. 

6. Paul wrote this letter to inspire Timothy with a high ideal of 

life and conduct that he might successfully organize and ad- 
minister the Church at Ephesus, and might root out heresies 
and elevate the moral tone of the members. 

7. Exhortations addressed to Timothy: 

(a) His mission at Ephesus 1 13 and 4. 

(b) General charge to Timothy. Read 1 Tim. 1:18-20; 4:6-16; 
6:6-16; and 6:20 and 21. 

Memory Verse: Memorize 1 Timothy 4:12. 



172 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXII :$ 

Study XXIL— JJatti's last Ctatoete, &econfc imprisonment, 
an* SDeatI) 

Third Day : Paul's First Epistle to Timothy 
(Continued) 

Interesting details concerning the Church at Ephesus — its troubles 
and tendencies — are contained in Paul's letter to Timothy. Especially 
noteworthy is St. Paul's method of dealing with certain vexatious 
questions that were arising. 

1. Disputes over the lifeless and useless precepts of the Jewish Law : 

1 Tim. 1 15-7. 

2. The forwardness of certain women in the Church: 1 Tim. 2:9-15. 

3. Heresies that St. Paul foresees as likely to spring up : 1 Tim. 

4:i-5. 

4. In the eyes of the Gospel all men were equal; how, then, were 

Christian slaves to regard their masters? 1 Tim. 6:1 and 2. 

5. The worldliness of certain rich Christians: 1 Tim. 6:6-10 and 

17-19- 

Lesson Thought: When discouraged by the appearance of evils 
in the Church at the present time, it is well for one to remember 
that even in the days of the apostles there were troubles of the 
same kind. Human nature is the same, whether in the twentieth 
century or the first century. Men have the same tendency toward 
sin, and need the Gospel just as much now as then. 

Prayer: "O Lord, grant that my heart may be truly cleansed 
and filled with Thy Holy Spirit, and that I may arise to serve Thee, 
and lie down to sleep in entire confidence in Thee, and submission to 
Thy will, ready for life or for death. Let me live for this day, not 
overcharged with worldly cares, but feeling that my treasure is not 
here, and desiring truly to be joined to Thee in Thy heavenly king- 
dom, and to those who have already gone to Thee. O Lord, save 
me from sin, and guide me with Thy Spirit, and keep me in faith- 
ful obedience to Thee, through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord." 
Amen. 



XXII:4 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 173 

Study XXII. — flattl's last &ratoete, ^econfc ^Imprisonment, 
an* SDeat!) 
Fourth Day: Paul's Epistle to Titus 

Paul wrote his First Epistle to Timothy in Macedonia. At the 
time of writing he hoped soon to visit Timothy at Ephesus. On 
leaving Macedonia Paul seems to have gone to Troas ; he may then 
have visited Ephesus. From Ephesus he went to Miletus. Depart- 
ing from Miletus he went to Crete, where he left Titus to take 
charge of the organization of the Cretan churches. From Crete, 
Paul went to Corinth, and while there wrote The Epistle to Titus. 

1. Paul at Troas: 2 Tim. 4:13; at Ephesus (?) : 1 Tim. 3:14; at 

Miletus: 2 Tim. 4:20; Crete: Titus 1:5; Corinth: 2 Tim. 4:20. 

2. Titus was a Greek (Gal. 2:3), and was one of Paul's converts 

(Titus 1:4). He accompanied Paul to Jerusalem to the con- 
ference concerning the status of Gentiles in the Church (Study 
XI). Paul also entrusted him with important commissions to 
the Corinthian Church ; he now leaves him in charge of the 
Church in Crete, and writes a letter to him similar to the letter 
sent to Timothy. Tradition affirms that Titus was the first 
bishop of Crete. 

THE EPISTLE TO TITUS 

3. It is uncertain when the Cretan Church was established. Cretans 

were in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:11). Paul 
may have visited the island during his sojourn of two years 
at Corinth. Mark Crete with a cross on your map. 

4. For what purpose was Titus left in Crete? Titus 1:5. 

5. The Cretans did not have a good reputation: 

(a) They were notorious for lying: See Titus 1:12. From 
what poet is this quotation taken? See page 16. In ancient 
times " to Cretize " was to lie. 

(b) They were unruly and talkative: Titus 1:10 and 11. 

(c) They were guilty of impurity: Titus 1:15 and 16. 

6. Brief outline of the contents of the letter : 

(a) Qualifications of Church officers : 1 :5-<p. 

(b) The conduct of Church members: 2:1-10. 

(c) Instructions of a general nature: 3:1-11. 

Lesson Thought: In the closing lines of this letter are found 
these words (verse 14), "and let our people also learn to maintain 
good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful." What 
does Paul mean by "our people"? Do these words apply to us as 
Christians? In what way to-day shall you maintain "good works 
for necessary uses" so as to be not unfruitful? 



174 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXII :5 

Study XXII. — Raul's last Crabete, ^econtr imprisonment, 

anti £)cat|) 

Fifth Day: Paul's Arrest and Second Imprisonment 

at Rome 

After writing his Epistle to Titus, Paul left Corinth, and went to 
Nicopolis. He was probably arrested there, and taken thence to 
Rome. Interesting glimpses of the apostle are contained in his 
Second Epistle to Timothy. 

1. Paul's movements : 

(a) He left Erastus at Corinth : 2 Tim. 4 :20. 

(b) His intention of going to Nicopolis: Titus 3:12. 

(c) Nicopolis (city of victory), in Epirus, was founded by 
Augustus in 31 B.C. to commemorate his victory at Actium. 
It was a good center for missionary work in Epirus, Illyr- 
icum, and Dalmatia. Mark Nicopolis with a cross on your 
outline map. 

(d) How much time did Paul plan to spend in Nicopolis? 
Titus 3:12. 

2. The cause of Paul's arrest: 

(a) It was now the year 67 a.d. Three years before this time 
Rome had been burned, and the Christians avere accused 
of having set it on fire. At once a most cruel persecution 
broke out against them. 

(b) So prominent a Christian leader as Paul was a great prize 
for capture. Probably some Roman officer, wishing to 
please the Emperor, seized Paul and sent him to Rome. 

3. The character of Paul's second imprisonment : 

(a) Owing to persecution, the Christians of Rome had been 
killed or driven into hiding. Paul no longer had their 
presence and help. 

(b) Paul was in need of help and sympathy. Who "re- 
freshed" him at this time? 2 Tim. 1:16-18. 

(c) His friends were absent or else had forsaken him : 2 Tim. 
4:10. 

(d) Who alone was with him? 2 Tim. 4:11 (first clause). 

(e) No longer in his own hired house, he sends a thousand 
miles for his cloak and his books: 2 Tim. 4:13. 

Paul's Confidence : Was Paul discouraged, and did he lose con- 
fidence in the Lord? Read 2 Tim. 1:8-12, dwelling with particular 
thought upon verse 12. 



XXII :6 Studies in the Life of St. Paul ij$ 

Study XXII.— pattl'a last Cratels, ^ztoxiH $m$vi&tinmnt, 
anti Deatj) 

Sixth Day: Paul's Second Epistle to Timothy 

Paul's life was now drawing to a close. He was in prison, an- 
ticipating a speedy sentence of deat,h. Longing for Timothy, he 
writes urging him to come to Rome. This letter, known as The 
Second Epistle to Timothy, is a precious possession: it gives us 
glimpses of Paul's final imprisonment (studied yesterday) ; it re- 
veals Paul's affection for Timothy; it contains much useful advice 
and exhortation; and, lastly, it preserves what are practically 
the last words of the apostle, 
i. Where had Timothy been left by Paul, and for what purpose? 

2. Paul's longing for Timothy : 2 Tim. 1 14. 

3. Who alone was with Paul at this time? 

4. Paul urges Timothy to come to him: 2 Tim. 4:9 and II. 

5. Why does Paul say in 2 Tim. 4:11 that Mark is "profitable for 

the ministry"? See Acts 15:37 and 38. Does it not appear 
that Paul was anxious to commend and reinstate Mark? 

6. Paul evidently fears that Timothy may not be able to reach Rome 

in time to see him before his execution ; he gives final advice 
and instruction to Timothy: 

(a) He must be true to his teaching: 2 Tim. 1:13, 14, and 

3:i4-i7. 

(b) Like a soldier, he must attend strictly to his duties ; like 
an athlete in the games, he must contend lawfully : 2 
Tim. 2:1-5. 

(c) He must be pure and gentle: 2 Tim. 2:22-25. 

7. Paul warns Timothy of certain dangers within the Church: 

(a) The wickedness of evil men: 2 Tim. 3:1-5. 

(b) The danger of false doctrine: 2 Tim. 4:1-4. 

Memory Verses: Memorize 2 Tim. 3:16 and 17 — verses which 
are particularly applicable to this last Epistle of St. Paul. 



176 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXII 7 

Study XXII. — tyml'& Last Cratoete, g>econ& Smprteomnent, 
an* £)eat& 

Seventh Day: The Death of St. Paul 

Tradition asserts that Paul was beheaded at Rome outside the 
city walls at a point on the road to Ostia. The year of his death 
may be given as 65 a.d., toward the end of the reign of Nero. 

1. At the first trial or hearing, Paul seems to have had no one to 

support him; he prayed for those who deserted him: 2 Tim. 
4:16. 

2. How did Paul evidently make use of the opportunity of speaking 

that was given him at the trial? 2 Tim. 4:17. 

3. What does he mean in 2 Tim. 4:17 (end of the verse) by the 

words, "I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion"? 

4. What was Paul's hope and confidence? 2 Tim. 4:18. 

5. The second (and last) trial probably took place shortly after the 

first. This time Paul's accusers succeeded in securing his con- 
demnation. 

6. Paul's last words: Three verses of Second Timothy may be re- 

garded in content and in spirit as practically Paul's last words : 
Read 2 Tim. 4:6-8. 

"The trial ended, Paul was condemned and delivered over to the 
executioner. He was led out of the city with a crowd of the lowest 
rabble at his heels. The fatal spot was reached : he knelt beside 
the block; the headsman's axe gleamed in the sun and fell; and 
the head of the apostle of the world rolled in the dust. . . . 

"Yet Paul lives among us to-day with a life a hundredfold more 
influential than that which throbbed in his brain while the earthly 
hull which made him visible still lingered on earth. Wherever the 
feet of them who publish the glad tidings go forth beautiful upon 
the mountains, he walks by their side as an inspirer and a guide; 
in ten thousand churches every Sabbath, and on a thousand hearths 
every day, his eloquent lips still teach that gospel of which he was 
never ashamed ; and wherever there are human souls searching for 
the white flower of holiness, or climbing the difficult height of self- 
denial, there he whose life was so pure, whose devotion to Christ 
was so entire, and whose pursuit of a single purpose was so un- 
ceasing, is welcomed as the best of friends." — Stalker, 



PART IX 
The Personality and Service of Paul 

Study XXIII. — Personal Characteristics of St. Paul 
Study XXIV. — Paul's Services to the World 



XXIII :i Studies in the Life of St. Paul 179 

Study XXIII.— personal Characteristics of St Jhttl 

First Day: Paul's Personal Appearance 

Testimony regarding the personal appearance of St. Paul is ex- 
tremely scanty. Only two passages in the New Testament yield any 
information on this point, and both of them are tantalizing in their 
brevity. In the works of later writers, however, from the third to 
the fifteenth century a.d., are found certain traditional accounts of 
the appearance of the apostle. Though these accounts are too late 
to be entirely trustworthy, nevertheless they agree in certain im- 
portant respects. 

1. Read Acts 14:11 and 12. In your previous study of these verses 

to what conclusion did you come regarding the stature and 
appearance of Paul? See also page 76, section 4. 

2. In his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, Paul quotes certain 

criticisms which his enemies had made about his speech and 
presence: See 2 Cor. 10:10. 

3. In a romance of the third century entitled The Acts of Paul and 

Thekla, Paul is described as "short, with meeting eyebrows, 
hook-nosed, full of grace." 

4. John of Antioch (sixth century) says that "Paul was, in person, 

round-shouldered, with a sprinkling of gray on his head and 
beard, with an aquiline nose, grayish eyes, meeting eyebrows, 
with a mixture of pale and red in his complexion, and an ample 
beard. With a genial expression of countenance, he was sensi- 
ble, earnest, easily accessible, sweet and inspired with the 
Holy Spirit." 

5. Nicephorus (fifteenth century) writes that "Paul was short and 

dwarfish in stature, and, as it were, crooked in person and 
slightly bent. His face was pale, his aspect winning. He was 
baldheaded, and his eyes were bright. His nose was prominent 
and aquiline, his beard thick and tolerably long, and both this 
and his head were sprinkled with white hairs." 

6. Read again carefully the testimony of the writers given above 

in sections 3 to 5, noticing particularly their points of agree- 
ment. Let your imagination create a picture of the apostle. 
The Beauty of Holiness : The scattered fragments of ancient 
testimony agree in stating that Paul had a pleasant and winning 
expression of countenance. Paul was reflecting Christ: "But we all, 
with unveiled face, reflecting, as a mirror, the glory of the Lord, are 
transformed into the same image from glory to glory." — Second 
Corinthians 3:18 (R.V.). 



i8o Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXIII 12 

Study XXI IL— Pergonal Characteristic* of St flatri 

Second Day: Paul's 'Thorn in the Flesh" 

Paul was troubled with a certain infirmity or weakness of body, 
which he calls his "thorn in the flesh." This may have had some 
influence upon his personal appearance and bearing. 

1. Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. 

2. According to Paul's own statement, why was the "thorn in the 

flesh" given to him? 

3. Why does Paul glory in this weakness? 

4. Paul seems to have had an attack of this mysterious malady on 

the occasion of his first visit among the Galatians : See Gala- 
tians 4:13 and 14. 

5. It is impossible to determine what Paul's thorn in the flesh really 

was. It was a weakness of body that afflicted him from time to 
time; it was extremely painful; it humiliated him, and made 
him an object of contempt; and in its workings it was mys- 
terious and apparently of diabolical origin (2 Cor. 12:7). 
Scholars have proposed various theories regarding Paul's weak- 
ness : some think he was troubled with acute ophthalmia — an 
inflammation of the eyes — and cite Gal. 4:15 as evidence; others 
suggest certain forms of hysteria or epilepsy; a recent view is 
that he was subject to malarial fever. Perhaps the most satis- 
factory theory is the suggestion that he had epileptic, seizures. 
His thorn in the flesh afflicted him directly after his ecstatic 
vision (2 Cor. 12:1-6), and may have been due to an over- 
wrought condition of his nervous system. For slight additional 
evidence see 2 Cor. 5:13 and Acts 26:24. 

6. Notwithstanding this peculiar ailment which distressed him at 

times, Paul must have had a vigorous constitution. If he had 
not, he never could have endured the many hardships and 
trials that fell to his lot as he preached the Gospel throughout 
the heathen world. 
Memory Verse : Memorize 2 Cor. 12 .'9. 



XXIII :3 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 181 

Study XXIIL— personal Cbamterisiticfli of i>t $atd 

Thipd Day: Paul a Man of Courage, Activity, and 

Enthusiasm 

Paul was a man of courage, activity, and enthusiasm. Not only 
was he courageous in the face of danger, but also he dared to main- 
tain an unpopular cause in the presence of those whom men would 
naturally wish to conciliate ; he displayed great activity in his preach- 
ing and teaching, and showed the highest enthusiasm in all his work. 

1. Paul's Courage: 

(a) What incident showed Paul's courage at Ephesus? See 
Acts 19:29 and 30. 

(b) Read the catalogue of some of the hardships, perils, and 
sufferings which Paul experienced: 2 Cor. 11:23-27. 

(c) Paul's courage of conviction: Gal. 2:11-14. Why did it 
take especial courage to criticise Peter? 

2. Paul's Activity: 

(a) The record of Paul's missionary journeys, filled with in- 
cessant toils and labors, testifies abundantly to the activity 
of the apostle. 

(b) The keen physical activity of the Greek athletic games 
interested him greatly; he often likens himself to a con- 
testant : Gal. 2 :2 ; 1 Cor. 9 126 and 27 ; 2 Tim. 4 :y and 8. 

3. Paul's Enthusiasm: 

(a) Paul's enthusiasm is most plainly seen in his letters. In 
his eagerness and earnestness he is at times almost inco- 
herent ; the line of thought is not always easy to follow ; 
there are abrupt transitions and puzzling omissions. 

(b) Paul, as he writes, is at times swept off his feet, so to 
speak, by a rush of feeling. On such occasions he bursts 
out in a doxology or in pious ejaculations in the praise of 
God: See Romans 11:33-36. 

(c) Paul seems at times, at least, to have spoken rapidly and 
with great feeling: Acts 26:24, and 2 Cor. 5:13. 

Prayer: "Give us courage, Lord, to do always that which is 
pleasing to Thee ; grant that we may be diligent and active in Thy 
service, running with patience the race that is set before us; and 
fill us with joy and enthusiasm that we may labor heartily and 
cheerfully in spreading Thy kingdom in the hearts of men." — Amen. 



182 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXIII :4 

Study XXIIL— personal Characteristics of §bU JJattl 

Fourth Day : Paul a Happy Man 

Paul, in spite of his thorn in the flesh, and in spite of his exces- 
sive labor and suffering for the Gospel, was a happy man. Not 
only was he happy himself, but he also wished others to be happy. 
i. Paul's Epistles abound in verses in which his happiness is openly 
expressed : 

(a) Paul's converts were a source of great happiness to him: 
See I Thess. 2:19 and 20; 2 Cor. 7:7, 9, and 16; Philippians 
1 :4; 2:2, 16 and 17; 4:1. 

(b) Another source of happiness was the spread of the Gospel : 
See Philippians 1:18. 

(c) Even his sufferings for the sake of the Gospel were a 
source of joy to him: 2 Cor. 7:4; 12:10; and Colossians 
1:24. 

2. Paul wished his converts to be happy: See 1 Thess. 5:16; and 

Philippians 4:4. 

3. The real secret of Paul's happiness was the abiding presence of 

the Holy Spirit ; this happiness was always his, and was in- 
dependent of external conditions ; hence, even when troubled on 
every side, his well-spring of joy never failed: 

(a) The presence of the Holy Spirit a source of joy: See 1 
Thess. 1:6; Romans 14:17. 

(b) The Holy Spirit is a source of peace and joy because it 
makes men feel the love of God: Romans 5:1-5. 

The Love of God : Paul was secure in the possession of his 
happiness that came from the love of God. Let him speak for him- 
self : "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor 
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to 
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our 
Lord." — Epistle to the Romans 8:38 and 39. 



XXIII :s Studies in the Life of St. Paul 183 

Study XXI I L— Personal Characteristics at* §>t. $Jattl 

Fifth Day: Paul a Man Who Loved Men 

Paul was successful in his labors among men because he loved 
them. He was a man of friendships : he loved his friends, and they 
returned his affection. Because he loved men, he avoided saying 
and doing those things which would unnecessarily offend or wound 
them, hence he was a man of tact, courtesy, and adaptability. 

1. Paul speaks of his friends with the greatest affection ; he never 

traveled alone, but always had one or more of his friends with 
him. 

(a) Among the many friends of Paul mentioned in Acts and 
in the Epistles, two deserve special notice : Luke and 
Timothy. Both traveled with him, and both were with him 
when in prison. 

(b) Luke: In what way does Paul speak of Luke in Col. 4:14? 
Where was Paul when he wrote Colossians? 

(c) Timothy: Paul's affection for Timothy is clearly expressed 
in 2 Tim. 1:2-4. See also 1 Cor. 4:17. 

2. Paul's friends and converts returned his affection : See Acts 

20:36-38; 21 :4 and 5. Luke's affection for Paul may be learned 
from 2 Tim. 4:11 (first sentence). Where was Paul when he 
wrote Second Timothy ? What were the circumstances under 
which it was written? 

3. Paul's tact: The apostle was tactful in approaching and dealing 

with men : 

(a) How was this quality shown in the opening words of his 
address at Athens, Acts 17:22-24? See page 103, section 8. 

(b) How was it shown also in his address before Felix, Acts 
24:10? In his address before Agrippa, Acts 26:1-3? 

(c) Paul's Epistle to Philemon is a most tactful letter. What 
were the circumstances under which it was written? 

4. Paul's adaptability : Paul's love for humanity and his ready sym- 

pathy enabled him to adapt himself to all sorts and conditions 

of men: See 1 Cor. 9:19-23. 
Love "the Greatest Thing in the World" : In the thirteenth 
chapter of First Corinthians Paul writes on "Love." Henry Drum- 
mond tells of a man who read this chapter once a week for three 
months, and it changed his life. Read this chapter and then read 
at your earliest opportunity Drummond's essay on it entitled: The 
Greatest Thing in the World. 



184 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXIII :6 

Study XXI 1 1. —personal C&aractetusttos of §bU Jteul 

Sixth Day: Paul a Man of Prayer 

Paul was a man of prayer. He prayed earnestly for his converts, 
and asked them to pray for him. In his Epistles he gave many 
directions concerning prayer. From one sublime prayer preserved 
in The Epistle to the Ephesians it is possible to learn about the 
character of Paul's prayers. 

1. Luke, in the book of Acts, mentions several occasions when Paul 

had recourse to prayer : At Philippi, Acts 16 125 ; at Miletus, 
20:36; at Tyre, 21:5; at Jerusalem, 22:17; on the island of 
Melita, 28:8. 

2. Paul prayed for his converts and for the churches to which they 

belonged : 

(a) The Thessalonians : 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:11. 

(b) The Corinthians: 2 Cor. 13:7. 

(c) The Romans: Rom. 1:9 and 10. 

(d) The Philippians: Phil. 1:3 and 4. 

(e) The Colossians : Col. 1:3 and 9. 

(f) The Ephesians: Eph. 1 :i6, 

(g) Philemon: Philem. 4. 
(h) Timothy: 2 Tim. 1:3. 

3. Paul asked his converts to pray for him : 

(a) 2 Thess. 3:1; Philippians 1:19; Ephesians 6:18 and 19; 
Col. 4:3 and 4. 

(b) For what end does Paul request these prayers? 

4. He gave, also, certain directions concerning prayer. See 1 Thess. 

5:17; 1 Tim. 2:1, 2, and 8; Philippians 4:6. 

5. Paul's sublime prayer: Read Ephesians 3:14-21. 

Thought for To-day: Paul gave much time to earnest prayer. 
Do you pray every day, or do you sometimes forget to talk with 
God? Do you pray only at night, just before you go to bed, when 
you are often too tired to know clearly what you are saying ? Do you 
pray for others, as Paul did, or do you pray only for yourself? 
Will you not resolve to be more thoughtful and earnest in your 
prayers ? 



XXIII 7 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 185 

Study XXIII. — personal Characteristics of St* JJattl 

Seventh Day : Paul's Devotion to Christ 

"Paul's personal devotion to Christ was the supreme characteristic 
of the man, and from first to last the mainspring of his activities. 
From the moment of his first meeting with Christ he had but one 
passion ; his love for his Saviour burned with more and more bright- 
ness to the end. He delighted to call himself the slave of Christ, 
and had no ambition except to be the propagator of His ideas and 
the continuer of His influence." — Stalker. 

1. In the first verse of three of his Epistles, Paul calls himself a 

''servant of Jesus Christ" (Romans, Philippians, and Titus). 
The word rendered here as servant means, rather, slave ; and, 
moreover, one who is a slave by birth. See also Acts 27 123. 

2. His one aim was to spread the Gospel of Christ : 1 Cor. 2 :2 and 

9:16; Philippians 1:14-18. 

3. He earnestly desired that Christ should be magnified in his body : 

Philippians 1 :20. 

4. He says that he was continuing the work of Christ and was 

filling np what was lacking in His sufferings : Col. 1 124. 

5. He bore the marks of the Lord Jesus in his body: Gal. 6:17. 

6. Christ was his life : Philippians 1 :2i-23. 

"Paul had the sense that Christ had done everything for him ; 
He had entered into him, casting out the old Paul and ending the 
old life, and had begotten a new man, with new designs, feelings, 
and activities. And it was his deepest longing that this process 
should go on and become complete — that his old self should vanish 
quite away, and that the new self, which Christ had created in His 
own image, and still sustained, should become so predominant that, 
when the thoughts of his mind were Christ's thoughts, the words 
on his lips Christ's words, the deeds he did Christ's deeds, and the 
character he wore Christ's character, he might be able to say, 'I 
live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.' " — Stalker. 



1 86 Studies in the Life- of St. Paul XXIV :i 

Study XXIV.— pawl's ^etbitesi to t&e ^nrlDf 
First Day: Paul a World-Missionary 

In summing up the services of St. Paul, it is first of all necessary 
to note that he preached the Gospel to practically the whole world 
of his day. 

i. The world, in St. Paul's time, was very much smaller than it is 
to-day. It comprised chiefly those lands that were under 
Roman rule — the lands bordering on the Mediterranean. 

2. What was Paul's commission as a world-missionary? See Acts 

9:iS. 

3. It was Paul's practice, in spreading the Gospel, to go to the 

capital, or most important city, of each province of the Roman 
Empire, and from that center to labor in the surrounding 
region. What important city was the headquarters of his work 
in Syria? In the Roman province of Asia? In Macedonia? 
In Achaia? 

4. Paul's work was done thoroughly: 

(a) What does Luke say of his work in the province of Asia? 
Acts 19:20 and 26. 

(b) Before Paul was taken to Rome he had preached the 
Gospel in all the lands of the Eastern Mediterranean : Ro- 
mans 15 :io, and 23. 

(c) While a prisoner at Rome, he made converts in the house- 
hold of Caesar and in the Praetorian guard: Philippians 
4:22 and 1:12-14 (R.V.). 

(d) Paul's plan for the evangelizing of the world took in 
Spain : See Romans 15 124. Certain early Christian writers 
affirm that he preached and labored there: See page 170, 
section 2. 

5. Yet Paul did not preach in all parts of the Roman Empire. There 

is no evidence in the New Testament to show that he visited 
Britain, Gaul, or Egypt. The Roman conquest of Britain did 
not really begin until 43 a.d., hence in Paul's time the Britons 
were still uncivilized; on the other hand, Gaul was being 
rapidly Romanized, and Egypt was a seat of culture. What 
reason does Paul give for not preaching in certain regions? 
See Romans 15 :20. 
Lesson Thought: Paul, in his life-work, fulfilled literally the 
promise and prophecy made by Christ on Ascension Day : Acts 1 :8. 



XXIV \2 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 187 

Study XXIV.— flatti'a §>ertois to t&e WzvVU 

Second Day: Paul the Interpreter of Christianity 

The world of St. Paul's time was the Roman Empire. It was 
dominated, however, by the Greek language and by Greek habits 
of thought. Though the Romans had conquered Greece, yet Greek 
art, literature, and philosophy mastered the Romans. The Greek 
mind was quick, alert, eager, and questioning. To the world of 
his day, permeated with Greek thought, Paul interpreted the life, 
death, and teachings of Christ. 

1. Alexander the Great, before his death, in 323 B.C., had conquered 

the world. He wished to make the world a Greek world, con- 
sequently he planted colonies throughout his vast empire, and 
encouraged the spread of the Greek language and culture. So 
thoroughly was the work done that even after his empire had 
passed into the hands of the Romans it kept its character as 
a Greek Empire ; the Greek language became well-nigh a uni- 
versal language. 

2. The Greek philosophers had groped after God. But with all 

their wisdom they had failed to find Him. They were dis- 
satisfied with paganism, and longed for a purer and better 
religion that should uplift and ennoble them. 

3. While the world was waiting for a deliverer, Jesus was born 

in the obscure province of Judea. His public ministry lasted 
three years, 27-30 a.d. He was a Jew, and His teachings were 
given in that form which was most expressive to Jews. Who 
was to interpret His life, death, and resurrection to the Gentile 
world? Who was to explain the philosophy of the plan of 
salvation to a world well trained in argument, discussion, and 
debate ? 

4. How was Paul especially fitted by birth and training to preach to 

the Greek world? 

5. What does Paul himself say of the Greek mind ? 1 Cor. 1 :22. 

6. Paul taught that the Gospel was a higher form of knowledge 

than the philosophic wisdom of the Greeks: 1 Cor. 1 : 17-24. 
Thought for To-day: In preaching and writing to the Greek 
world, Paul was preaching and writing to us, for our methods of 
thought and point of view are essentially those of the Greeks. " We are 
all Greeks. Our law, our literature, our religion, our art, have their 
roots in Greece." — Shelley. 



188 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXIV -.3 

Study XXIV.— $ mi's Serine** to t&e 3£>0rto 

Third Day : Paul's Successful Combat with Judaism 

In his work of spreading the Gospel about the Roman Empire, 
and in adapting its teachings to Greek methods of thought, Paul 
met his greatest opposition among the Jews. Moreover, the most 
dangerous opposition was not that of the unbelieving Jews, but 
that of the Jewish party within the Church, which tried to impose 
the Mosaic Law on all Gentile converts. That Christianity did 
not become a sect of Judaism is due to the vigorous work of St. 
Paul. 

J. God chose the Jewish nation for training in religion ; He revealed 
Himself to the patriarchs ; He gave laws to Moses ; and He 
spoke through the prophets. The religious teachers of the 
Jews added to the Laws of Moses (the Written Law) a mass 
of minute and intricate rules (the Oral Law), and imposed 
the whole on the Jewish people — "a yoke," said Peter, "which 
neither our fathers nor we were able to bear." 

2. The Judaizing party within the Church tried to force the Law 

upon the Gentiles: For two references, selected from many, 
see Acts 15:1 and Galatians 3:1-3. 

3. "What charges did this party bring against Paul? Acts 21:20 

and 21. 

4. What did Paul consider to have been the true work of the Law? 

Galatians 3:23-28. 

5. In nearly every one of his Epistles, Paul touched on the question 

of the relation of the Gentiles to the Law. He was pre- 
eminently the apostle of the Gentiles and the champion of 
Gentile freedom. His arguments against the Judaizing party 
are most fully stated in Galatians and Romans. 

6. Paul was beheaded in 65 a.d. In 70 a.d., Titus captured and 

destroyed Jerusalem. Judaism no longer had a center for the 
national worship, nor could it answer the keen arguments of 
Paul. The apostle had won, and had established the truth of 
the equality of all men in the eyes of the Gospel : "Where 
there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, 
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free : but Christ is all, and in all" 
(Col. 3:11). 



XXIV :4 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 189 

Study XXIV.— jpaul'ei ^etbicca to tlje WnvXU 

Fourth Day : Paul the Organizer of the Church 

Before his death, Paul foresaw that the Christian Church was 
in need of thorough organization to do its great work in the world, 
and to withstand the troubles that would assail from within and 
without. His last letters are filled with directions for Church organi- 
zation, government, and worship. 

1. What were some of the evils that Paul foresaw? See 1 Tim. 

4:i-3. 

2. Read also 2 Tim. 3:1-7. 

3. Church organization and government: 

(a) Qualifications of a bishop, or overseer: 1 Tim. 3:1-7. 

(b) The position and dignity of elders: 1 Tim. 5:17-19. Read 
also Titus 1 :5-9, and note that in those early days bishop 
and elder were synonymous terms. 

(c) Qualifications of a deacon: 1 Tim. 3:8-13. 

4. Church worship : 

(a) The use of psalms and hymns: Colossians 3:16. 

(b) Prayer: 1 Tim. 2:1-3, 8. 

(c) The Lord's Supper: 1 Cor. 11:23-34. 

(d) Paul would have Church worslr'n "edifying"; that is, it 
should build up those taking part. He would have all things 
done "decently and in order." See 1 Cor. 14:26 and 40. 

Lesson Thought: Paul knew that there was much work to be 
done within the Christian Church — work requiring varied talents and 
endowments. Read Ephesians 4:11-13, and ask yourself what part 
you are willing to take in the "edifying of the body of Christ"; that 
is, in building up His Church. 



190 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXIV :$ 

Study XXIV.— $mVa &tv)nim to t&e WovVa 

Fifth Day: Paul's Epistles a Priceless Legacy 

In the Epistles of Paul, the Christian world has a priceless legacy. 
Next to the four Gospels, the Epistles of St. Paul are the most 
important documents of the Christian Church. They expand and 
unfold the teaching of Christ; they contain verses and chapters 
that for centuries have been a help and comfort to Christians of 
all lands ; and they reveal to us all the power, enthusiasm, love, 
and sympathy of the great apostle himself. 

1. Even Paul's enemies admitted that his letters were powerful : 

See 2 Cor. 10:10. 

2. Certain portions of Paul's letters are hard to understand. What 

did Peter say about their difficulty? 2 Peter 3:15. 

3. The following table, taken, with a few hanges, from Stalker's 

Life of St. Paul, gives the chronological order of Paul's 
Epistles and the leading characteristic of each : 



Epistle 


Characteristic 


1 and 2 Thessalonians 


Simple beginnings. Attitude toward 
Christ's Second Coming 




Galatians 
1 Corinthians 


Vehement argument against Judaizers 
Picture of an apostle church 


2 Corinthians 


Paul's portrait of himself 


Romans 


Paul's gospel 


Philippians 


Picture of Roman imprisonment 


Colossians 


Paul's later gospel 

Example of Christian courtesy 


Philemon 


Ephesians 

1 Timothy, and Titus 


Paul's later gospel 


Form of the church 


2 Timothy 


The last scenes 



4. Study this table carefully, and fix in mind the chronological order 

and characteristics of Paul's letters. His writings should always 
be read in their chronological order, for he was ever "getting 
deeper and deeper in his subject." 

5. The Epistle to the Hebrews has been omitted from the table, be- 

cause it was probably not written by Paul. 
Paul's Portrait: "Paul is constantly visible in his letters. You 
can feel his heart throbbing in every chapter he ever wrote. He 
has painted his own portrait — not only that of the outward man, 
but his innermost feelings — as no one else could have painted it." — 
Stalker. 



XXIV :6 Studies in the Life of St. Paul 191 

Study XXIV.— ftatti's; Vertices; to t&e Wwm 

Sixth Day: Review of Study XXIII 

To-day's lesson is a review of Study XXIII, The Personal Char- 
acteristics of St. Paul (pp. 179-185). 

1. What was the personal appearance of St. Paul, according to the 

testimony of tradition? Does the New Testament say anything 
about his personal appearance? 

2. What was Paul's "thorn in the flesh" ? How did he turn this af- 

fliction into a blessing? 

3. What evidence can you produce to show that Paul was a man 

of courage, activity, and enthusiasm? 

4. Was Paul a happy man? What was the secret of his happiness? 

5. What was the secret of Paul's influence with men? 

6. What proof is there that Paul was a man of prayer? 

7. Paul was a man whose supreme characteristic was personal devo- 

tion to Christ. How was this devotion shown? 

8. What characteristic of St. Paul's has most impressed you during 

your study of his life? Has your own life been influenced at 
all by that of the great apostle? Have you resolved that you 
will cultivate some of those qualities that made him a great 
and effective Christian? 



192 Studies in the Life of St. Paul XXIV 7 

Study XXIV.— flattl's g>evtoice0 to t&e Waxin 

Seventh Day : Review of Study XXIV 

To-day's lesson is a review of Study XXIV, St. Paul's Services 
to the World (pp. 186-190). 

1. In what part of the ancient world did Paul preach? Did he 

fail to visit any important divisions of the Roman Empire? If 
so, what was the reason? 

2. In what way was Paul the interpreter of Christianity to the 

world ? 

3. Why was Paul compelled to combat Judaism ? Was he successful ? 

4. What did Paul do to organize and strengthen the Christian 

Church? 

5. How many of Paul's Epistles are extant? Why do these Epistles 

constitute one of the great legacies of the Christian world? 

6. What feature of Paul's work has most interested you? 

7. You have now reached the end of these Studies in the Life of 

St. Paul. You have been in daily contact for twenty-four 

weeks with the great apostle to the nations. You may not be 

a great missionary like Paul. In fact, you will probably not 

be a missionary at all in the technical sense of the word, but, 

like Paul, you can interpret Christ to the world by living His 

teachings. You may never fight an opposing sect as Paul fought 

Judaism, but you will find that the Church has foes to-day who 

are just as untiring and determined as those of the days of 

the apostle. You may never write great epistles that will be 

precious documents of the Church, but you can be a "living 

epistle," as says St. Paul, "known and read of all men." And 

remember always that Paul was a great Christian because he 

tried to live as Christ lived. Imitate Christ, not Paul, but let 

Paul's life be an encouragement to you, a proof of what man 

can be when he lives the life of Christ. 

Paul's Doxology: "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding 

abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power 

that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Jesus 

Christ throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." — Ephesians 

3:20 and 21. 



NOV 8 »9W 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: June 2005 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 

1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 






u 



■■■'■■-••• 

Si 



